Fuel tank for a scooter type motorcycle

Field of Invention:

The present invention relates to a "Fuel tank for a scooter type motorcycle" more
specifically relates to an inlet structure of the fuel tank for a scooter type motorcycle.

Background of the invention:

Motorcycles, powered by engines normally require gasoline fuels. The fuel for running the engine is stored in the fuel tank at sufficient levels for continuous operation of the vehicle. The fuel tank stores sufficient quantity of fuel for facilitating fuel flow to the carburetor of the internal combustion engine for continuous running of the vehicle. The fuel tank tanks are made up of metal or from suitable polymers in most of the motorcycles. In the known type motorcycles the fuel tanks are fabricated from metal and mounted between the seat and the handle bar. These fuel tanks add aesthetic appeal of the vehicles. Such exposed fuel tanks are provided with lockable cap to avoid fuel pilferage.

In some vehicles, especially for scooter type vehicles, in order to efficiently exploit the available space, the fuel tank shape and size are made suitable to the vehicle layout requirements. In many scooter-type vehicles, the fuel tank is provided directly below the seat. In such type of vehicles, since the utility box is also below the seat, a lock is provided to open the seat that is hinged in the front to access the utility box and the fuel tank. Such fuel tanks that are normally made of polymers, such as plastic, threads are formed at the inlet portion of the fuel tank in order to adopt a screwed type fuel tank cap. In these type of vehicles, every time the rider has to open the seat for fuel refilling which can be done only when the rider gets out the vehicle that is not case of fuel tanks exposed outside. In order to avoid this problem especially in scooter vehicles, the fuel tank is provided in the floorboard of the vehicle. The fuel inlet, is provided suitably either at the front side or at the rear side of the vehicle to facilitate fuel filling. Hoses are used to connect the fuel tank body and the fuel inlet assembly to facilitate the fuel filling process.

However this arrangement requires a long flexible hose connection with screw type hose clips to connect the inlet and fuel tank body. Further the fuel tank needs to have high ground clearance to safeguard the fuel tank from getting damaged. In addition to this there exist a chance for leakage of fuel and reduction in durability of the hose connected to the fuel tank.. Hence the objective of the invention is to provide a fuel tank for a scooter type motorcycle having higher ground clearance and having a lockable cap exposed outside to facilitate easy filling without the need for any hose connection The present invention was conceived in view of the above problems of the prior art, and it is accordingly an object of the present invention to provide a fuel tank in rear part of a scooter type motorcycle, which makes it possible to easily perform refueling without opening the seat.

Further objective of the present invention is to provide a fuel tank in the rear part of the scooter type motorcycle that can be opened for refueling without getting down from the seat.

Brief description of the invention

In the proposed embodiment, the fuel tank top mounted at a position below the
vehicle rear side frame panel and behind the pillion seat. The blow-moulded fuel
tank is situated in a convenient location. The said fuel tank has been provided
with an integrated cap assembly with the fuel tank. A flange is en moulded over
the blow moulded fuel tank inlet. The said flange is provided with at least
threaded inserts to facilitate direct mounting of the fuel tank cap assembly over
the fuel tank. This fuel tank cap assembly has been provided with a lockable
hinge-mounted cap. The lockable cap is operated by a cable-operated key, which
is provided just behind the rider on the left side panel just below the pillion rider's
seat.

Since the lockable hinge cap is directly mounted onto the fuel tank thru' the end
molded flange, the rider can open and close the cap without the need for getting
down.

Brief description of the drawings

Embodiments of the present invention will be described herein under with
reference to the accompanying drawings. The drawings are to be seen in the
direction of reference numerals.

Figure 1 illustrates the side view of a scooter type motorcycle

Figure 2 illustrates isometric view of the fuel tank apparatus;

Figure 3 illustrates frontal view of the fuel tank apparatus;

Figure 4 illustrates side view of the fuel tank apparatus;

Figure 5 illustrates the total fuel tank structure;

Figure 6 illustrates side view of the fuel tank cap and fuel tank cap holder; and

Figure 7 illustrates the top view of the fuel tank cap and fuel tank cap holder.

Detailed description of the invention

The invention describes a hinge mounted fuel tank cap over the fuel tank cap holder.

Figure 1 illustrates the side view of a concerned scooter type motorcycle wherein all the embodiments including a fuel tank.

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 501 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 509, the engine 502, 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 503 of the vehicle. An upper frame extends from the head tube to a rearward end of the vehicle body. A swing arm 504 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 507 there between.

The sub-frame preferably supports at least one component of the scooter-type
vehicle in the space, such as a fuel tank 101, for example.

Typically, front 503 and rear 504 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 502, which is configured to
drive the rear wheel of the scooter.

The power unit 502, is coupled along with a transmission assembly 508, such as
a drive shaft, drive belt, or chain and sprocket assembly.

The frame assembly 501 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 505 and a seat assembly 506 are
supported at opposing ends of the frame assembly and a generally open area is
defined there between.

Accordingly, the open area between the handlebar assembly and the seat
assembly allows the scooter to be easily straddled, or mounted, as opposed to a
typical motorcycle, wherein a motorcycle fuel tank occupies the space between
the handlebar assembly and the seat assembly. Such an arrangement may be
referred to as a "step-through" frame assembly.

Generally, a scooter frame assembly is constructed of a welded-up assembly of
individual tubular members.

Typically, a central portion of the frame assembly includes a pair of upper tubes,
and a pair of lower tubes. The individual pairs of upper and lower rails usually are
aligned with one another in a vertical direction and spaced from one another in a
lateral direction, with the pair of upper rails being spaced above the pair of lower
rails.

Figure 2 illustrates the isometric view of the fuel tank apparatus. Fuel tank apparatus in the present example is a blow mounted fuel tank base 101 mounted on the rear of a scooter type vehicle. From the isometric view it could be observed that there are two openings on the fuel tank apparatus: one is fuel inlet 111 and the other is opening for fuel level gauge 110. Opening for fuel level gauge has provision of plastic 102 for facilitating mounting of inserts. There are two lugs or projection 103,107 for supporting the fuel tank on to the frame having in them locations for front top mounting 104 and location for rear top mounting 105. The fuel tank inlet 111 has a fuel tank sealing 106 for facilitating firm mounting of the fuel tank cap holder. The fuel tank opening is moulded on the fuel tank structure wherein a poka-yoke 108 is provided which ensures correct assembly of the fuel tank cap holder over the fuel tank cap sealing surface 106. The fuel tank cap sealing surface 106 has threaded inserts 109, which facilitates firm mounting of the fuel tank cap holder over it through screws. A flange is en molded over the blow molded fuel tank inlet. The said flange is provided with at least threaded inserts to facilitate direct mounting of the fuel tank cap assembly over the fuel tank.

Figure 3 illustrates the frontal view of the fuel tank apparatus showing various
embodiments. In addition to the embodiments explained earlier, it has a lug/
projection for front middle mounting 201 on the frame of the vehicle.

Figure 4 illustrates the side view of the fuel tank apparatus showing its
embodiments.

Figure 5 illustrates the total fuel tank structure in addition to the hose to
carburettor 404 and vacuum hose 405. It has three embodiments viz. fuel tank
101, fuel tank cap 409 and fuel tank cap holder 410. The fuel tank cap structure
has a location 402 for assembling cable and/or the seat lock. Here the fuel tank
cap opens with an angle of 95-110 degrees to facilitate easy fuelling of the
vehicle. Moreover the fuel tank cap is hinge mounted on the fuel tank cap holder
for easy handling as well as maintenance of the vehicle. The fuel tank cap holder
is mounted through screws on the fuel tank cap-sealing surface 106. On the
bottom of the fuel tank the opening for fuel outlet is mounted through an auto fuel
cock (AFC) 403 through fasteners 406. On the opening for fuel level gauge 110 a
fuel sender unit is mounted which has a provision for connecting the vehicle
wiring harness 408.

Figure 6 illustrates the side view of the fuel tank cap structure 401 specifying its
various embodiments.

Figure 7 illustrates the top view of the fuel tank cap and fuel tank cap holder
along with a collar 601 which is lock fitted to ward of dust and to add aesthetics to the structure. This fuel tank cap assembly has been provided with a lockable hinge-mounted cap. The lockable cap is operated by a cable-operated key, which is provided just behind the rider on the left side panel just below the pillion rider's seat. Since the lockable hinge cap is directly mounted onto the fuel tank thru' the end molded flange, the rider can open and close the cap without the need for getting down.

The invention being thus described, it will be obvious that the same may be varied in many ways. Such variations are not to be regarded as a departure from the spirit and scope of the invention, and all such modifications as would be obvious to one skilled in the art are intended to be included within the scope of the claims.

Claims We claim:

1. A vehicle fuel tank structure comprising:

a fuel tank structure;

a fuel inlet circumscribed by a collar having provisions of threaded inserts on the fuel tank structure;

a fuel tank cap structure having a cap and a cap holder mounted on the said fuel inlet through the threaded inserts;

wherein the said fuel tank cap is hinge mounted over the said cap holder.

2. A vehicle fuel tank structure as claimed in claim 1, wherein the said fuel tank structure is blow-moulded resin.

3. A vehicle fuel tank structure as claimed in claim 1, wherein a flange having provisions of threaded inserts is en-moulded over the said blow moulded fuel tanks structure.

4. A vehicle fuel tank structure as claimed in claim 1, wherein the said hinge mounted cap is lockable and is operated by a cable actuated key.

5. A vehicle fuel tank structure as claimed in claim 1, wherein the said flange is en molded over the blow molded fuel tank inlet.

6. A motorcycle having a fuel tank structure comprising: a fuel tank structure;

a fuel inlet circumscribed by a collar having provisions of threaded inserts on the fuel tank structure;

a fuel tank cap structure having a cap and a cap holder mounted on the said fuel inlet through the threaded inserts;

wherein the said fuel tank cap is hinge mounted over the said fuel tank holder.