FUEL TANK ASSEMBLY FOR A TWO WHEELED VEHICLE
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The subject matter as described herein, relates generally to an automotive vehicle and more particularly, but not exclusively, to a fuel tank assembly in a two wheeled vehicle

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] There is known a conventional scooter type vehicle comprising a fuel tank beneath a seat and acting as a load carrying member. The fuel tank is disposed at a location so as to enable ease of access to a concerned person for filling fuel. The fuel tank stores fuel for the engine and comprises of a fuel inlet for introducing fuel into the fuel tank and a openable and closable fuel lid for covering the fuel inlet. The fuel tank also comprises a fuel sender unit having a float through which the quantity of the fuel in the fuel tank is known to the vehicle operator.

[0003] During the process of filling fuel in the fuel tank at a fuel station,the attendant introduces the fuel into the fuel'inlet through a fuel filling gun having metallic end portion. One end of the fuel filling.gun is usually introduced deep into the fuel tank by the attendant which may damage the soft float of the fuel sender unit. Resultantly, the quantity of the fuel within the fuel tank is not displayed correctly to the vehicle operator.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0004] It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide an improved fuel tank assembly for an automotive vehicle which restricts deep entry of the fuel filling gun at the fuel station and avoid damage to the float of the fuel sender unit.

[0005] Therefore, the present subject matter described herein relates to an improved fuel tank assembly, wherein the fuel tank assembly allows restricted entry into the fuel tank. According to the present invention, the fuel tank assembly .,.„includes„a fuel,.tank top member and a fuel tank bottom member, wherein,, the. ^ stopper member is connected to the fuel tank top member. The fuel tank top member further comprises an integrally formed fuel inlet. A fuel pump unit integrated with a fuel sender unit is accommodated within the fuel tank and is suspended from the fuel tank top member. Pursuant to the present invention, a stopper member is provided immediately below the integrally formed fuel inlet in a space within the fuel tank in order to restrict deep entry of a fuel filling gun.

[0006] The stopper member is disposed immediately below the fuel inlet. and joined to the fuel tank top member for confining the inward movement of the fuel filling gun. In an embodiment, stopper member is welded to a lower surface of the fuel tank top member. In an embodiment, the lower surface includes an inner surface of the fuel tank top member facing the ground. The stopper member, thus disposed, aids in restricting the entry of the fuel filling gun as it does not allow the gun to go deep into the fuel tank.

[0007] The foregoing objectives and summary is provided to introduce a selection of concepts in a simplified form, and is not limiting. To fully appreciate these and other objects of the present subject matter as well as the subject matter itself, all of which will become apparent to those skilled in the art, the ensuing detailed description of the subject matter and the claims should be read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
[0008] The above and other features, aspects and advantages of the subject matter will be better understood with regard to the following des^criptipn, appended claims and accompanying drawings where:

[0009] FIG. 1 illustrates a plan view of a scooter type vehicle in accordance with an embodiment of the present subject matter.

[00010] FIG. 2 shows a top perspective view of a fuel tank assembly in accordance with an embodiment of the present subject matter.

[00011] FIG. 3 shows a detailed side view of the vehicle showing the routing of fuel from the fuel tank assembly.

[00012] FIG. 4 shows a top view of the fuel tank assembly without an adjacent article storage device and the routing of fuel.

[00013] FIG. 5(a) shows a perspective view of a stopper member according to a first embodiment.

[00014] FIG. 5(b) shows a top perspective view of the fuel tank assembly without a fuel tank top member according to the first embodiment.

[00015] FIG. 5(c) shows a bottom perspective view of the fuel tank assembly without a fuel tank bottom member according to the first embodiment.

[00016] FIG. 6(a), 6(b) and 6(c) respectively show a perspective view of the stopper member, a sectional side view of the fuel tank assembly, and a bottom perspective view of the fuel tank assembly without the fuel tank bottom member according to a second embodiment.

[00017] FIG. 7(a), 7(b) and 7(c) respectively show a perspective view of the stopper member, a sectional side view of the fuel tank assembly, and a bottom perspective view of the fuel tank assembly without the fuel tank bottom member according to a third embodiment.

[00018] FIG. 8(a), 8(b) and 8(c) respectively show a perspective view of the stopper member, a sectional side view of the fuel tank assembly, and a bottom perspective view of the fuel tank assembly without the fuel tank bottom member according to a fourth embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[00019] The present subject matter and its embodiments would now be described in greater detail in conjunction with the figures in the following description.The following description provides a convenient illustration for implementing exemplary embodiments of the invention. It is to be noted that terms "upper", "lower", "right", "left", "front", "rear", "downward", "upward", "top", "bottom" and like terms are used herein based on the illustrated state or in a standing state of a two wheeled vehicle with a driver riding thereon. Furthermore, a longitudinal axis refers to a front to fear axis relative to, the vehicle, while a lateral axis refers to a side to side, or left to right axis relative to the vehicle. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology used herein is for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting.The two wheeled vehicle is exemplified in the form of a scooter type vehicle including a step thru vehicle of scoobek or bebek type.

[00020] FIG. 1 shows a side view of an automotive vehicle in the form of a scooter type motorcycle. The vehicle 1 includes a frame assembly made up of several tubes welded together supporting the body of said vehicle. The vehicle 1 has a steerable front wheel 2 and a driven rear wheel 4 driven by driving force generated by a power unit 29. The front wheel 2 of a motorcycle 1 is axially supported at a lower end of a front fork 3, and the front fork 3 is pivoted in a steerable manner in a head pipe 14 of the vehicle frame.

[00021] A handle bar 7 is attached to an upper end of the head pipel4. headlight unit 10 is arranged forwardly of the handle bar 7 and is surrounded by a visor 9. The ^handle bar 7 and a seat 22 are supported at opposing ends of the frame assembly and a generally open area is defined there between known as floorboard 12 which functions as a step through space. The floorboard is supported on' the main pipe. The seat 22 for a driver and a pillion is placed forward to a fuel tank assembly 40 and rearwardly of the floorboard 12. An article storage device 23 is disposed below the seat 22 so that the access to the article storage device is dependent upon the open and closed position of the seat. The fuel tank assembly 40 is disposed rearwardly of the article storage device 23beneath the seat 22 and is thus a load carrying member. A pillion handle 24 is provided toward the rear end of the seat 22 to support the pillion rider.

[00022] A front fender 5 is provided above the front wheel 2 to avoid the said vehicle and its occupants from being splashed with mud. Likewise, a rear fender 27 is disposed between the fuel tank assembly 40 and rear wheel 4, and to the outer side in the radial direction of rear wheel 4. The rear fender 27 comprises of an extended portion 28extending forwardly in a longitudinal direction so as to cover the fuel tank assembly 40 from the bottom (FIG. 3). It inhibits undesirable impurities from being thrown up by rear wheel 4 towards the fuel tank.

[00023] In the said vehicle, the power unit 29 is configured to drive, and is swingably supported on, the rear wheel 4. The power unit 29 is integrally formed with an engine and a power transmission, and the rear wheel 4 is connected to a drive shaft at the rear of the power unit 29. In an embodiment of the present invention, the engine is a four stroke single cylinder internal combustion engine with electronic fuel injection system. An air filter 21 is disposed laterally to the rear wheel 4 above the power unit 29.

[00024] FIG. 2 shows a top perspective view of the fuel tank assembly 40 in accordance with an embodiment of the present subject matter. It comprises of a fuel tank top member 41 and a fuel tank bottom member 44joined to each other through spot welding process. The fuel tank top member 41 and the fuel, tank bottom member 44 are further secured to each other through a plurality of securing recesses 47-1, 47-2, 47-3 and 47-4preferably provided at the corners of the fuel tank top member 41 and the fuel tank bottom member 44. A fastener passes through each of the securing recesses to secure the fuel tank top member 41 and the fuel tank bottom member 44. Further, the fuel tank top member 41 and the fuel tank bottom member 44 define a space between them within which the fuel is stored and other components are suspended.

[00025] The fuel tank top member 41 comprises of a fuel pump unit 51 to pump fuel towards the engine and a fuel inlet 45 for allowing access to the fuel tank. The fuel pump unit 51 is provided with a fuel hose 52 through which fuel is supplied.The fuel inlet 45 is provided rearward of the fuel pump unit 51 and is covered with a detachable cap 46 so that the fuel does not spill outside of the fuel tank. In a preferred embodiment, the fuel inlet 51is formed integral with the fuel tank top member 41 by a forming process so as to reduce the number of parts and number of manufacturing steps.

[00026] The frame of the vehicle 1 is an elongated structure, which typically extends from a front end to a rear end of the vehicle. It is generally convex in shape, as viewed, from a side elevational view. As shown in FIG. 3, the frame assembly comprises of the head pipe 14, a downpipe 15 extending downwards from the head pipe 14, a lower pipe 16 extending rearwards from a lower end of the downpipe 15andsupporting the low-slung floorboard 12, and a rear pipe 18 formed by curving a rear end section of the lower pipe 16 diagonally upwards. The rear pipe 18 is made of a steeply inclined section 18a extending diagonally upwards from a rear end of the lower pipe 16, and a mildly inclined section 18b extending rearwards substantially horizontally from the steeply inclined section 18a and is covered by a left side cover 25 and a right side cover similar to the left side cover. The mildly inclined section 18b is approximately horizontal towards the rear end. The rear pipe 18 is made of at least two parallel tubes laterally spaced apart from each other, one on each side of the vehicle longitudinal axis and therefore only one of them is seen in the figure and described. The two parallel tubes are connected by a cross tube 19 (FIG. 4). The cross tube 19 is disposed above a cylinder head 30 of the power unit 29 and supports the front portion of the article storage device 23. Further, as depicted in FIG. 1, the frame assembly is covered by a plurality of vehicle body covers including a front panel 17, a leg shield, an under seat coyer 26, the left side cover 25 and the right side cover respectively- present on either side of the vehicle longitudinal plane.

[00027] FIG. 3 and 4show the routing of the fuel hose 52 from the fuel tank assembly to a fuel injector toward the power unit 29. The fuel hose 52 is substantially routed along the rear pipe 18.The fuel hose 52 projects laterally from the fuel pump unit 51 and is clamped to the extended portion 28 of the rear fender 27 through a first hose clamp 56-1. In an embodiment, the first hose clamp 56-1 is formed integral with the extended portion 28. In another embodiment, the first hose clamp 56-1 is connected to the extended portion 28. The fuel hose is further routed between the article storage device 23 and the rear pipe 18 and is clamped to at least one second hose clamp 56-2at a lower elevation than the first hose clamp 56-1. The second hose clamp 56-2 is connected to a bottom surface of the steeply inclined section 18a of the rear pipe 18 through the welding process. In an embodiment, the steeply inclined section 18a supports two second hose clamps 56-2. The fuel hose 52 is still further guided inwardly from the bottom surface of the steeply inclined section 18a through a third hose clamp 56-3 secured to the cross tube 19. In an embodiment, the third hose clamp 56-3 is a metal bracket welded to the cross tube 19. The fuel hose 52 is covered by the left side cover 25 and the right side cover for safety and to avoid contact with any undesirable foreign matter like water and mud. The routing thus described also reduces the length of the fuel hose by permitting both side movements of the fuel hose in dynamic conditions. It avoids the fuel hose below the article storage device and prevents heating of hose. The routing improves durability by eliminating U-bends and avoids damage to the fuel hose.
[00028] According to an aspect, the fuel tank assembly further comprises of
a stopper member 60. The stopper member is disposed immediately below the fuel inlet 45within a space in the fuel tank for restricting the inward movement of a fuel filling gun 100 through the fuel inlet. The presence of the stopper member 60 allows fuel filing gun 100 to remain aloof from the components within the fuel tank, for example, components of the fuel pump unit 51. As shown in FIG. 5(c), the fuel pump unit 51 comprises of a fuel pump 52. It is present in the space between the fuel tank top member 41and the fuel tank bottom member 44and is suspended from the fuel tank top member41. A fuel sender unit 53 is integrated with the fuel pump 52. The fuel pump unit 51 and the fuel sender unit 53 thus are integral and assembled as one component. This kind of fuel tank construction contributes to the compactness of fuel tank assembly without affecting its volume. Hence, more article storage space is available in the article storage device23disposed adjacent to the fuel tank assembly 40without increasing the vehicle length.

[00029] The fuel sender unit 53 is also supported on the fuel tank bottom member 44. The fuel pump 52 pumps the fuel to the fuel injector through the fuel hose 52. The fuel sender unit 53 comprises of a float member 55 and a float arm connecting the float member 55 to the fuel sender unit 53. The float member

55 floats on the available fuel and communicates the fuel level in the fuel tank to the vehicle operator. In the ensuing description, the float member 55 is shown in two positions, one during sufficient fuel level in the fuel tank (full condition) and the other during negligible fuel level in the fuel tank (depicted by numeral 57). The two positions are mutually exclusive and at a time the float member 55can only be in one position. The fuel tank top member 41 comprises a lower surface 42 facing the ground. The lower surface 42 includes an inner surface of the fuel tank top member. The fuel pump unit 51 integrated with the fuel sender unit 53 is supported (suspended) on the fuel tank top member 41. The stopper member 60 is connected to the lower surface 42 and extends across the diameter of the fuel inlet 45.

[00030] The stopper member is now explained in detail. It comprises of a middle portion 65 flanked by at least two end portions namely a first end portion 63 and a second end portion 64. FIG. 5(a), 5(b) and 5(c) show the first embodiment of the stopper member 60. A front view of the fuel tank shows the stopper member as having a'U-Shaped cross section. The middle portion 65 is flat and the first end portion 63 and the second end portion 64 are at a higher elevation than the middle portion 65 giving it a shaped of a door handle. The first end portion 63 and the second end portion 64 are connected to the lower surface 42 of the fuel tank top member 41 by a welding process, preferably by spot welding. Thus, the stopper member 60 is connected to the fuel tank top member at least at two points. As shown in FIG. 5(b), the stopper member 60 confines the entry of the fuel filling gun 100 through the fuel inlet 45 to the upper portion of the fuel tank. Further entry of the fuel filling gun 100 deeper in the fuel tank is constrained as the fuel filling gun 100 hits the middle portion 65of the stopper member60. Further as shown in FIG. 5(c), after substantial fuel is filled in the fuel tank, float member 55 moves upward with the increasing level of the fuel. The stopper member 60 therefore also prevents the float member 55 from getting damaged by the fuel filling gun 100 at thfuel filling station. Consequently, the float member 55shows the correct reading of the fuel to the vehicle operator.

[00031] A second embodiment of the stopper member referred by numera 60-1 is described in FIG. 6(a), 6(b) and 6(c). At least one spring is connected to each of the first end portion 63 and the second end portion 64 in the stopper member 60-1. A first spring 62b is connected to the first end portion 63 and a second spring 62a is connected to the second end portion 64. The stopper member 60-1 is thus suspended from and supported by the fuel tank top member 41through the springs 62a, 62b which are welded to the lower surface 42 of the fuel tank top member 41.Each spring distorts when load of fuel filling gun 100 is applied and recovers its original shape when the load is removed. The free length of springs is maintained in such way that it maintains the gap to avoid the damages to the float member 55.

[00032] A third embodiment of the stopper member referred by numeral 60-2 is described in FIG. 7(a), 7(b) and 7(c). The middle portion 65 is W-shaped to restrict the fuel filling gun 100 further. The first end portion 63 and the second end portion 64 are welded to the lower surface 42 of the fuel tank top member 41 thus connecting the stopper member 60-2 to the fuel tank top member at least at two points.

[00033] A fourth embodiment of the stqpper member referred by numeral 60-3 is also possible as described in FIG. 8(a), 8(b) and 8(c). In this embodiment, the stopper member 60-3 is connected to the lower surface 42 of the fuel tank top member 41 only at one end, through the second end portion 64. The.other end is free like a cantilever beam. The middle portion 65 is linear and is flexible to move up and down. This embodiment reduces the weight of the stopper and thereby cost.

[00034] According to another aspect of the present invention, the stopper member including all the aforementioned embodiments is composed of sheet metal or plastic resin.

[00035] Further, as shown in FIG. 2, a provision 48 is provided on the lower surface 42of the fuel tank top member 41for securing of the stopper member by welding process. The provision is made on both sides of the fuel inlet. It helps to locate the welding spot.Thus, the stopper member described in the above embodiments limits the entry of the fuel filling gun only to a certain depth and thus prevents the damage to the float member of the fuel sender unit.

[00036] The present subject matter is thus described. The description is intended to be exhaustive nor is it intended to limit the invention to the precise form disclosed. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the disclosed embodiments may be modified in light of the above description. The embodiments described are chosen to provide an illustration of principles of the invention and its practical application to enable thereby one of ordinary skill in the art to utilize the invention in various embodiments and with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated. Therefore the forgoing description is to be considered exemplary, rather than limiting, and the true scope of the invention is that described in the appended claims.

We claim:
1. A scooter type vehicle (1) comprising a fuel tank assembly (40) located at a rear portion of the vehicle behind an article storage device (23), said fuel tank assembly comprising a fuel tank top member (41) and a fuel tank bottom member (42), characterised in that, the fuel tank top member (41) comprises an integrally formed and detachably covered fuel inlet(45) and having a lower surface (42) supporting a fuel pump unit (51) integrated with a fuel sender unit (53), wherein a stopper*member (60, 60-1, 60-2) is provided immediately below said fuel inlet (45) within a space in the fuel tank for restricting the inward movement of a fuel filling gun (100) through said fuel inlet (45) and wherein the stopper member (60) is connected tosaid lower surface of the fuel tank top member (41).

2. The scooter type vehicle as claimed in claim 1, wherein the stopper member (60) extends across the diameter of the fuel inlet (45).

3. The scooter type vehicle as claimed in claim 1, wherein the stopper member (60) comprises of a middle portion (65) flanked by a first end portion (63) and a second end portion (64) and wherein the first end portion (63) and the second end portion (64) are connected to. the lower surface (42) of the fuel tank top member (41).

4. The scooter type vehicle as claimed in claim 3, wherein the first end ' portion (63) and the second end portion (64) are welded to the lower surface (42) of the fuel tank top member (41).

5. The scooter type vehicle as claimed in claim 3, wherein the first end portion (63) and the second end portion (64) are connected to the lower surface (42) of the fuel tank top member (41) through at least one spring (62a, 62b) connected to each of the first end portion (63) and the second end portion (64).

6. The scopter_type vehicle as claimed in claim 3, wherein the middle portion
(65) is W- shaped.
7. The scooter type vehicle as claimed in claim 3, wherein the middle portion.
(65) is a linear in shape.

8. The scooter type vehicle as claimed in claim 3, whereinthe first end
portion (63) and the second end portion (64) are at a higher elevation than the middle portion (65).

9. The scooter type vehicle as claimed in any of the preceding claims, wherein the lower surface (42) includes a provision (48) for securing the stopper member by welding process and wherein the lower surface includes an inner surface of the fuel tank top member (41) facing the ground.

10. The scooter type vehicle as claimed in any of the preceding claims, wherein the stopper member is composed of sheet metal or plastic resin.