| Title of Invention | MOTORCYCLE |
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| Abstract | To provide a motorcycle which can realize the miniaturization of a float by decreasing a length of a sensor arm which constitutes a rotary portion and, further, can enhance the degree of freedom in forming a shape of a fuel tank and the degree of freedom in designing a layout of a fuel sensor. [Means for Resolution] A fuel sensor 50 includes a sensor body portion 51 which is mounted on a fuel tank 40, an arm portion 52 which extends from an upper end portion of the sensor body portion 51 outwardly in the vehicle-width direction, a sensor resistor portion 53 which is mounted on an outer end portion of the arm portion 52 in the vehicle-width direction, a sensor arm 54 which is rotatably mounted on the sensor resistor portion 53 with a swing angle thereof detectable by the sensor resistor portion 53, and a float 55 which is mounted on a distal end portion of the sensor arm 54, and the sensor body portion 51 and the sensor resistor portion 53 are arranged to overlap with each other as viewed in a side view of the vehicle. [Selected Drawings] Fig. 2 |
| Full Text | [Designation of Document] Specification [Title of the Invention] MOTORCYCLE [Technical Field] [0001] The present invention relates to a motorcycle, and more particularly to a fuel sensor of the motorcycle. [Background Art] [0002] As a conventional motorcycle, there has been known a motorcycle which includes a fuel tank formed into a downwardly recessed shape in the transverse cross section and a fuel sensor which is mounted on a bottom portion of the fuel tank. Here, the fuel sensor includes a sensor body portion, a sensor resistor portion which is directly mounted on the sensor body portion, a sensor arm which is rotatably mounted on the sensor resistor portion, and a float which is mounted on a distal end portion of the sensor arm (for example, see patent document 1) . [0003] [Patent Document 1] JP-A-2007-276746 [Disclosure of the Invention] [Problems that the Invention is to Solve] [0004] In the motorcycle disclosed in the above-mentioned patent document 1, the sensor arm extends in an elongated manner toward a front side of the vehicle which is a position where a liquid surface level of fuel is detected and hence, a weight of the sensor arm is increased thus necessitating a large float. Further, since a deflection quantity of the sensor arm is increased, it is necessary to increase a clearance between an inner wall of the fuel tank and the float for preventing the float from interfering with the inner wall of the fuel tank due to vibrations or the like. Accordingly, the degree of freedom in forming a shape of the fuel tank and the degree of freedom in designing a layout of the fuel sensor have been restricted. [0005] The present invention has been made to overcome the above-mentioned drawbacks and it is an object of the present invention to provide a motorcycle which can realize the miniaturization of a float by decreasing a length of a sensor arm which constitutes a rotary portion and, further, can enhance the degree of freedom in forming a shape of a fuel tank and the degree of freedom in designing a layout of a fuel sensor. [Means for Solving the Problems] [0006] To achieve the above-mentioned objects, the invention described in claim 1 is characterized in that, in a motorcycle which includes a fuel tank which is configured to store fuel therein and a fuel sensor which detects a liquid-surface level of fuel in the fuel tank, the fuel sensor includes a sensor body portion which is mounted on the fuel tank, an arm portion which extends from an upper end portion of the sensor body portion outwardly in the vehicle-width direction, a sensor resistor portion which is mounted on an outer end portion of the arm portion in the vehicle-width direction, a sensor arm which is rotatably mounted on the sensor resistor portion with a swing angle thereof detectable by the sensor resistor portion, and a float which is mounted on a distal end portion of the sensor arm, and the sensor body portion and the sensor resistor portion are arranged to overlap with each other as viewed in a side view of a vehicle. [0007] The invention described in claim 2 is characterized in that, in addition to the constitution of the invention described in claim 1, rigidity of the arm portion is set higher than rigidity of the sensor arm. [0008] The invention described in claim 3 is characterized in that, in addition to the constitution of the invention described in claim 1 or claim 2, the fuel sensor further includes a cable for transmitting a signal detected by the sensor resistor portion, and the cable is spirally wound around the arm portion. [Advantage of the Invention] [0009] According to the motorcycle described in claim 1, the fuel sensor includes the sensor body portion which is mounted on the fuel tank, the arm portion which extends from the upper end portion of the sensor . body portion outwardly in the vehicle-width direction, the sensor resistor portion which is mounted on the outer end portion of the arm portion in the vehicle-width direction, the sensor arm which is rotatably mounted on the sensor resistor portion with a swing angle thereof detectable by the sensor resistor portion, and the float which is mounted on the distal end portion of the sensor arm, and the sensor body portion and the sensor resistor portion are arranged to overlap with each other as viewed in a side view of a vehicle. Due to such constitution, a length of the sensor arm which constitutes a rotary portion can be decreased thus enabling the miniaturization of the float. Further, by decreasing the length of the sensor arm, a deflection quantity of the sensor arm can be decreased and hence, it is possible to decrease a clearance between an inner wall of the fuel tank and the float. Accordingly, the degree of freedom in forming a shape of the fuel tank and the degree of freedom in designing a layout of the fuel sensor can be enhanced. Further, a length of the fuel sensor in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle can be decreased and hence, the degree of freedom in designing the layout of the fuel sensor can be further enhanced. Further, the decrease of the length of the fuel tank in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle and the flattening of the fuel tank can be realized. Still further, it is possible to adjust a mounting angle of the sensor resistor portion using the arm portion and hence, it is unnecessary to change an angle of a sensor portion per se of the sensor resistor portion thus enhancing the general-purpose property which allows the use of the fuel sensor in different types of motorcycles. [0010] According to the motorcycle described in claim 2, the rigidity of the arm portion is set higher than the rigidity of the sensor arm and hence, it is possible to further decrease a deflection quantity of the sensor arm. Accordingly, the clearance between the inner wall of the fuel tank and the float can be further decreased so that the degree of freedom in forming a shape of the fuel tank and the degree of freedom in designing a layout of the fuel sensor can be further enhanced. [0011] According to the motorcycle described in claim 3, the fuel sensor includes the cable for transmitting a signal detected by the sensor resistor portion, and the cable is spirally wound around the arm portion and hence, it is unnecessary to additionally provide a member for holding the cable thus reducing the number of parts and reducing a manufacturing cost. [Best Mode for Carrying Out the Invention] [0012] Hereinafter, one embodiment of a motorcycle according to the present invention is explained in detail in conjunction with drawings. Here, the drawings are viewed in the same direction as numerals. In the explanation made hereinafter, "front", "rear", "left", "right", "up", "down" are determined in accordance with directions as viewed from a rider, while in the drawings, a front side of the vehicle is indicated by symbol Fr, a rear side is indicated by symbol Rr, a left side is indicated by symbol L, a right side is indicated by symbol R, an upper side is indicated by symbol U, and a lower side is indicated by symbol D. [0013] As shown in Fig. 1, a motorcycle 10 of this embodiment includes a pair of left and right main frames 12 which extends from a head pipe 11 in the rearward direction and, thereafter, in the downward direction, a front fork 13 which is rotatably supported on the head pipe 11, a front wheel WF which is rotatably supported on a lower end portion of the front fork 13, a steering handle 14 which is mounted on an upper end portion of the front fork 13, an engine 15 which is mounted on a lower portion of the main frame 12, a pivot plate 16 which is connected to a rear end portion of the main frame 12, a swing arm 17. which is swingably supported on the pivot plate 16, a rear wheel WR which is rotatably supported on a rear end portion of the swing arm 17, a seat frame 18 which is connected to a rear upper portion of the main frame 12 and extends in the rearward and upward direction, a rear sub frame 19 which is connected to the pivot plate 16, extends in'the rearward and upward direction, and has a rear end portions thereof connected to the seat frame 18, and a cushion unit 20 which connects the rear sub frame 19 and the swing arm 17 in a swingable manner. [0014] Here, in Fig. 1, numeral 21 indicates a wind screen, numeral 22 indicates a head light, numeral 23 indicates a front cowl, numeral 24 indicates a front side cowl, numeral 25 indicates a side cowl, numeral 26 indicates a rear cowl, numeral 27 indicates a tail light, numeral 28 indicates a front fender, numeral 29 indicates a rear fender, numeral 30 indicates a driver's seat, numeral 31 indicates a pillion seat, numeral 32 indicates a grab rail, numeral 33 indicates an exhaust pipe, numeral 34 indicates a muffler, numeral 35 indicates a rear blinker, numeral 36 indicates a license plate, numeral 37 indicates a reflector, numeral 38 indicates a main step, and numeral 39 indicates a pillion step. [0015] Further, on the motorcycle 10, a fuel tank 40 which stores fuel therein is arranged above the main frame 12 and in front of the driver's seat 30. In the fuel tank 40, a fuel sensor 50 which detects a liquid-surface level of fuel in the fuel tank 40 is arranged. [0016] As shown in Fig. 2 and Fig. 3, the fuel tank 40 is constituted of a tank body 41 having a substantially reversed-U-shape in cross section and a bottom plate 42 having a substantially convex-shape in cross section and closes an opening formed in a lower portion of the tank body 41. The fuel tank 40 is integrally formed into a vessel by bonding respective peripheral edge portions of the tank body 41 and the bottom plate 42 by welding. Further, on an upper portion of the tank body 41, an oil filling port 43 for filling fuel in the fuel tank 40 is formed. Further, the bottom plate 42 is arranged above the main frame 12, and includes a center bottom plate 44 which extends in the frontward and upward direction and side bottom plates 45 which are respectively arranged on both sides of the main frame 12 and extend in the frontward and downward direction. [0017] As shown in Fig. 2 and Fig. 3, the fuel sensor 50 includes a sensor body portion 51 which is mounted on the fuel tank 50, an arm portion 52 which extends from an upper end portion of the sensor body portion 51 outwardly in the vehicle-width direction, a sensor resistor portion 53 which is mounted on an outer end portion of the arm portion 52 in the vehicle-width direction, a sensor arm 54 which is rotatably mounted on the sensor resistor portion 53 with a swing angle thereof detectable by the sensor resistor portion 53, a float 55 which is mounted on a distal end portion of the sensor arm 54, and a cable 56 which transmits a signal detected by the sensor resistor portion 53. [0018] The fuel sensor 50 is configured to detect a liquid-surface level (residual quantity) of fuel in the fuel tank 40 by detecting a swing angle of the sensor arm 54 which is rotated by the float 55 floating on a liquid surface of fuel using the sensor resistor portion 53. [0019] The cable 56 extends from the sensor resistor portion 53 and is spirally wound around the arm portion 52 and, thereafter, extends in the downward direction, and is connected to a signal pickup portion 51b which is mounted on a base plate 51a formed on a lower end portion of the sensor body portion 51. Due to such constitution, it is possible to transmit a detection signal to an external fuel gauge not shown in the drawing. [0020] Further, in this embodiment, the sensor body portion 51 and the sensor resistor portion 53 are arranged to overlap with each other as viewed in a side view of the vehicle. Further, the rigidity of the arm portion 52 is set higher than the rigidity of the sensor arm 54. [0021] Further, the fuel sensor 50 is fixed to the fuel tank 40 in such a manner that the fuel sensor 50 is inserted into a sensor mounting hole 46 formed in the center bottom plate 44 of the fuel tank 40, and the base plate 51a of the sensor body portion 51 is fastened to the sensor mounting plate 47 which is fixed to a lower surface of the center bottom plate 44 using bolts 48 and nuts 49. Further, the sensor mounting hole 46 is hermetically closed by the base plate 51a of the sensor body portion 51. [0022] As has been explained heretofore, according to the motorcycle 10 of this embodiment, the fuel sensor 50 includes the sensor body portion 51 which is mounted on the fuel tank 40, the arm portion 52 which extends from the upper end portion-of the sensor body portion 51 outwardly in the vehicle-width direction, the sensor resistor portion 53 which is mounted on the outer end portion of the arm portion 52 in the vehicle-width direction, the sensor arm 54 which is rotatably mounted on the sensor resistor portion 53 with the swing angle thereof detectable by the sensor resistor portion 53, and the float 55 which is mounted on the distal end portion of the sensor arm 54, and the sensor body portion 51 and the sensor resistor portion 53 are arranged to overlap with each other as viewed in a side view of the vehicle. Due to such constitution, it is possible to decrease a length of the sensor arm 54 which constitutes a rotary portion thus enabling the miniaturization of the float 55. Further, by decreasing the length of the sensor arm 54, a deflection quantity of the sensor arm 54 can be decreased and hence, it is possible to decrease the clearance between the inner wall of the fuel tank 40 and the float 55. Accordingly, the degree of freedom in forming the shape of the fuel tank 40 and the degree of freedom in designing the layout of the fuel sensor 50 can be enhanced. Further, the length of the fuel sensor 50 in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle can be decreased and hence, the degree of freedom in designing the layout of the fuel sensor 50 can be further enhanced. Further, the decrease of the length of the fuel tank 40 in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle and the flattening of the fuel tank 40 can be realized. Still further, it is possible to adjust amounting angle of the sensor resistor portion 53 using the arm portion 52. Accordingly, it is unnecessary to change an angle of a sensor portion per se of the sensor resistor portion 53 thus enhancing the general-purpose property general-purpose property which allows the use of the fuel sensor in different types of motorcycles. [0023] Further, according to the motorcycle 10 of this embodiment, the rigidity of the arm portion 52 is set higher than the rigidity of the sensor arm 54 and hence, it is possible to further decrease the deflection quantity of the sensor arm 54. Due to such constitution, the clearance between the inner wall of the fuel tank 40 and the float 55 can be further decreased so that the degree of freedom in forming the shape of the fuel tank 40 and the degree of freedom in designing the layout of the fuel sensor 50 can be further enhanced. [0024] Further, according to the motorcycle 10 of this embodiment, the fuel sensor 50 includes the cable 56 for transmitting the signal detectedby the sensor resistor portion 53, and the cable 56 is spirally wound around the arm portion 52 and hence, it is unnecessary to additionally provide a member for holding the cable 56 thus reducing the number of parts and reducing the manufacturing cost. [Brief Description of the Drawings] [0025] [Fig. 1] A left side view for explaining one embodiment of a motorcycle according to the present invention. [Fig. 2] A side view with a part broken away of a fuel tank shown in Fig. 1. [Fig. 3] A cross-sectional view taken along a line A-A.in Fig. 2. [Description of Reference Numerals and Signs] [0026] 10: motorcycle 40: fuel tank 41: tank body 42: bottom plate 44: center bottom plate 45: side bottom plate 43: oil filling port 46: sensor mounting hole 41: sensor mounting plate 48: bolt 49: nut 50: fuel sensor 51: sensor body portion 51a: base plate 51b: signal take-out portion 52: arm portion 53: sensor resistor portion 54: sensor arm 55: float 56: cable [Designation of Document] Claims [Claim 1] A motorcycle comprising: a fuel tank which is configured to store fuel therein; and a fuel sensor which is configured to detect a liquid-surface level of the fuel in the fuel tank, wherein the fuel sensor includes; a sensor body portion which is mounted on the fuel tank, an arm portion which extends from an upper end portion of the sensor body portion outwardly in the vehicle-width direction, a sensor resistor portion which is mounted on an outer end portion of the arm portion in the vehicle-width direction, a sensor arm which is rotatably mounted on the sensor resistor portion with a swing angle thereof detectable by the sensor resistor portion, and a float which is mounted on a distal end portion of the sensor arm, and the sensor body portion and the sensor resistor portion are arranged to overlap with each other as viewed in a side view of a vehicle. [Claim 2] A motorcycle according to claim 1, wherein rigidity of the arm portion is set higher than rigidity of the sensor arm. [Claim 3] A motorcycle according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the fuel sensor further includes a cable for transmitting a signal detected by the sensor resistor portion, and the cable is spirally wound around the arm portion. |
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| Patent Number | 268758 | ||||||||
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| Indian Patent Application Number | 343/CHE/2009 | ||||||||
| PG Journal Number | 38/2015 | ||||||||
| Publication Date | 18-Sep-2015 | ||||||||
| Grant Date | 15-Sep-2015 | ||||||||
| Date of Filing | 17-Feb-2009 | ||||||||
| Name of Patentee | HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD. | ||||||||
| Applicant Address | 1-1, MINAMIAOYAMA 2-CHOME, MINATO-KU, TOKYO, | ||||||||
Inventors:
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| PCT International Classification Number | B62K1/00 | ||||||||
| PCT International Application Number | N/A | ||||||||
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PCT Conventions:
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