Fuel tank

Field of the invention

Tine present invention relates to a fuel tank, and more particularly to an improvement of a vehicular fuel tank fuel filler inlet device that is provided with a fuel filler gun stopper orifice receiving a fuel filler gun.

Description of the prior art

In general, an automobile is equipped with a device such as a cap that is retained in a normally closed state in a fuel filler guide tube extending upward from a fuel tank, and that is opened when a fuel filler gun is inserted into the fuel filler guide tube. However, in a two-wheeled motor vehicle such as a scooter, in terms of layout of a fuel tank, it is not practical to mount a long fuel filler guide tube on the fuel tank. This is owing to small size of its fuel tank. As a result of this, the fuel gun touches and pushes the fuel gauge float and float arm. Due to this action of the fuel gun, the fuel gauge float loses its accuracy and in certain instances, may become totally dysfunctional.

As a result of these constraints, a need arises to solve the above said lacunae in the prior art. Therefore, the main objective of the present invention is to provide a fuel gun stopper that protects the fuel gauge float and float arm from getting damaged from the said fuel gun which refuelling the fuel tank.

Another objective of the present invention is to provide a system that resists sudden impact owing to insertion of the fuel-filling gun.

Another objective of the present invention is to provide a system that resists fuel leakage and seepage.

Brief description of the invention

Tine present invention has been accomplished in the light of the above-mentioned circumstances, and it is an object thereof to provide a vehicular fuel tank fuel gun stopper device that prevents a fuel-filling gun from entering a fuel tank deep and that can prevent the fuel gauge float from getting damaged.

According to one of the aspects of the present invention, a stopper is provided on the fuel tank intake orifice. This stopper is either push fitted on the fuel tank orifice or is inserted through threaded means. The said stopper is made of two parts, namely, a collar and a bridge. The collar has guides that lock with the fuel tank orifice. The bridge acts as physical stopper for the said fuel-filling gun.

Brief description of the drawings Figure 1 illustrates side view of a scooter type motorcycle Figure 2 illustrates a fuel tank with the said stopper according to the present invention

Figure 3a, 3b, 4a and 4b illustrate the different views of the said stopper. Detailed description of the invention

A first embodiment of the present invention shown in FIG. 1 to FIG. 4 is now explained.
Figure 1 illustrates the side view of a concerned scooter type motorcycle wherein all the embodiments viz. left side cover mounting, right side cover mounting, rear fuel tank cover and an under cowl.

Scooter-type vehicles, or scooters, include a frame assembly, which usually supports the body of a scooter, along with front and rear wheels. A frame assembly for a scooter-type vehicle comprises of at least one front wheel, at least one rear wheel and a vehicle body.

Typically, a frame structure 101 for a scooter type motorcycle comprises a main frame and may also have a sub-frame. The sub-frame is attached to the mainframe using appropriate fastening members. All the other components such as the body panels, the engine 102, and the electrical units are mounted on the main frame and the sub frame either directly or by means of brackets and fastening members.

The frame assembly includes a head tube, which supports a front wheel suspension assembly 103 of the vehicle. An upper frame extends from the head tube to a rearward end of the vehicle body. A swing arm 104 is pivotally supported by the upper frame and supports a rear wheel of the vehicle. The frame assembly may include a lower frame removeably coupled to the upper frame and defining a space 107 there between.

The sub-frame preferably supports at least one component of the scooter-type vehicle in the space, such as a fuel tank, for example.

Typically, front 103 and rear 104 suspension assemblies are operatively positioned between the front and rear wheels and the frame assembly. The front suspension assembly commonly is a telescopic fork arrangement, while the rear suspension assembly is a swing type arrangement. In a scooter, the rear suspension swing arm typically supports a power unit 102, which is configured to drive the rear wheel of the scooter.

The power unit 102, is coupled along with a transmission assembly 108, such as a drive shaft, drive belt, or chain and sprocket assembly.

The frame assembly 101 of a scooter-type vehicle is an elongated structure, which typically extends from a forward end to a rearward end of the scooter. A scooter frame assembly generally is convex in shape, as viewed from a side elevational view. A handlebar assembly 105 and a seat assembly 106 are supported at opposing ends of the frame assembly and a generally open area is defined there between. The rear fender 109 is placed on the rearward end of the scooter. A fuel tank 110 is placed in the rear end of the vehicle along with the fuel tank cap.

Figure 2 illustrates the isometric view of the fuel tank apparatus along with the said fuel filling gun stopper 201. Fuel tank apparatus in the present example is a blow mounted fuel tank base mounted on the rear of a scooter type vehicle. From the given view it could be observed that there are two openings on the fuel tank apparatus: one is fuel inlet 311 and the other is opening for fuel level gauge 310. There are two lugs or projection 303, 307 for supporting the fuel tank on to the. The fuel tank inlet 311 has a fuel tank sealing 306 for facilitating firm mounting of the fuel tank cap holder. The fuel tank cap sealing surface 306 has threaded inserts 309, which facilitates firm mounting of the fuel tank cap 202 over it through screws.

Figure 3a and 3b illustrates various views of the said stopper 201. This stopper 201 is either push fitted on the fuel tank orifice 311 or is inserted through threaded means. The said stopper 201 is made of two parts, namely, a collar 203 and a bridge 204. The 203 collar has guides 205 that lock with the fuel tank orifice 311. The bridge acts 204 as physical stopper for the said fuel-filling gun. The said stopper 201 can be made of either metal or moulded resin. The size of the said stopper 201 is such that it fits tightly to the fuel tank orifice or inlet 311. Additionally, the bridge 204 of the said stopper 201 Is strengthened by providing ribs 206 to withstand the fuel gun pressure even under severe load conditions without braking or chipping away. The design is such that it 204 offers minimum resistance to the fuel flow from the gun without causing any spillage or splashing. Moreover, the above said stopper 201 is a separate retrofittable part that can be used on the field vehicles also.

Although the subject matter has been described in considerable detail with reference to certain preferred embodiments thereof, other embodiments are possible. As such, the spirit and scope of the appended claims should not be limited to the description of the preferred embodiment contained therein.

Claims

We claim:

1. A fuel tank for a scooter type motorcycle comprising a fuel tank inlet 311, a fuel tank cap 202, a fuel level gauge float, wherein the said fuel tank is provided with a fuel gun stopper 201 mounted on the said fuel tank inlet 311.

2. The fuel tank as claimed in claim 1, wherein the said stopper 201 is provided with a collar 203 and a bridge 204.

3. The stopper as claimed in claim 2, wherein the said collar 203 is provided with guides 205 for locking the stopper in the said fuel tank inlet 311.

4. The stopper as claimed in claim 2, wherein the said bridge 204 is provided with strengthening ribs 206.

5. A scooter type motorcycle having a stopper as claimed in claim 1.