Title of Invention

A FUEL TANK INLET CAP ASSEMBLY FOR A MOTORCYCLE

Abstract A fuel tank inlet cap assembly for a motor cycle comprising a cap provided for the mouth of the inlet in a fluid tight fit, the cap having a body insertable into the inlet, the body being provided with a breathing passage running through it, the first end of the passsage opening out to atmosphere on the cap and characterized in that the second end of the passage opens out into a conical recess provided on the the roof of a chamber, near the base of the body, the chamber having a hole at its side, opening into the tank, said second end of the passage normalloy communicating with the said hole, for enabling the interior of the fuel tank to cimmunicate with atmosphere; a freely movable ball, normally resting on the floor of the chamber, the conical recess receiving the ball and blocking the second end of the passage, when the motorcycle is sufficiently tilted or overturned.
Full Text

This invention relates to a fuel tank inlet cap assembly for a motorcycle.
The term motor cycle is not confined to a motor cycle strictly known as such, but includes all other motor vehicles to which this invention is applicable.
It is common knowledge that when a motor cycle tilts or overturns in an accident, the fuel in tlie tank tends to leak from the fuel tank. The leak usually takes place tlirough the air breathing passage in the fuel tank inlet cap assembly which connects the fuel tank to atmosphere. This passage is intended to equalize the air pressure within the fuel tank with that of the atmosphere.
The breathing passage conventionally provided is normally of two kinds : One kind is where the passage directly connects the interior of the tank to atmosphere. In this case, the leak, if it occurs, will be substantially creating fire hazards. The other kind is where the passage has an indirect or complex route, from the tank to atmosphere, slowing down the leak, enabling the situitaion to be brouglit under control before die leak can cause any damage.
Although the latter case is to be preferred to the former, the latter is more expensive in manufacture in view of the more elaborate tooling diat will be required to manufacture the cap assembly.
This invention therefore proposes a simpler and less expensive cap assembly which is also more effective in performance.

Various features of this invention will be apparent from the following description.
The fuel tank inlet cap assembly for a motor cycle, according to this
invention, comprises a cap provided for the mouth of the inlet in a fluid tight
fit, the cap having a body insertable into the inlet, tlie body being provided
with a breathing passage running through it, the first end of the passage
opening out to atmosphere on tlie. cap and characterized in that tlie
second end of the passage opens out into a conical recess provided in the roof of a chamber near the base of the body, the chamber having a hole at its side, opening into the tank, said second end of the passage normally communicating with the said hole; a freely movable ball, normally resting on the floor of the chamber, the conical recess receiving the ball and blocking the second end of the passage, when the motorcycle is sufficiently tilted or overturned.
This invention will now be described witli reference to tlie accompanymg drawings which illustrate
In Fig. 1 one of the kno\vn fuel tank inlet cap assemblies for motorcycles And
In Fig. 2 an embodiment of the fiiel tank inlet cap assembly for motorcycles of this invention.

Fig 1 illustrates the known cap assembly 13 consisting of a cap 13 a with breathing hole al on the side; a washer 13b which sits on the inside surface of cap 13a, a cup washer 13c witli a hole a2 in die center and which is located inside a cylindrical cup 13b. Tlie closed end of the cylindrical cup breather 13d is provided with a hole a3.
According to Fig.l the breathing passage from the fuel tank 10 is connected to atmoshere through holes al a2 a3. During tilting or overturning of the motorcycle, the fuel flows tlirough the holes a3 a2 al and comes out through the cap 13.
Fig. 2 illustrates the embodiment of the fuel tank inlet cap assembly 131. The embodiment comprises a cap 13 la with breather hole al 1 on the top. A washer 13b which sits on the inside of the surface of the cap 13 la, a cup washer 13c with a hole a2 in the center which is located inside the cup 13 Id. The other end of the cup 13 Id is having a conical recess C provided with a hole a 13. The cup 131d goes inside a cup 13 If that holds a metallic ball 13Ie. A breatlier hole al4 is provided on the side of cup 13 If
When die vehicle is running, the breadiing passage is connected to the atmosphere through holes al 1 a2 al3 and al4. When the vehicle titf^s beyond a limit or overtums^the ball 13 le sits in the conical recess C of the cylindrical cup 13 Id, thus preventing the leakage of fuel through the cap 131a.

The terms and expressions herein are of description and not of limitation having regard to the scope and ambit of this invention.





We Claim:
1. A fuel tank inlet cap assembly for a motor cycle comprising a cap provided for the mouth of tlie inlet in a fluid tight fit, the cap having a body insertable into the inlet, the body being provided with a breathing passage running through it, the first end of the passage opening out to atmosphere on the ^ - cap and characterized in that the second end of the passage opens out into a conical recess provided on the roof of a chamber, near the base of the body, the chamber having a hole at its side, opening into the tank, said second end of tlie passage normally communicating with the said hole, for enabling the interior of tlie fuel tank to communicate witli atmosphere; a fi-eely movable ball, normally restmg on the floor of the chamber, the conical recess receiving the ball and blocking the second end of the passage, when the motorcycle is sufficiently tilted or overturned.
2.A fuel tank inlet cap assembly for a motor cycle substantially as herein described and illustrated with reference to the accompanying drawings.


Documents:

1212-CHE-2004 AMENDED CLAIMS 01-10-2010.pdf

1212-CHE-2004 CORRESPONDENCE OTHERS 01-10-2010.pdf

1212-che-2004-claims.pdf

1212-che-2004-correspondnece-others.pdf

1212-che-2004-description(complete).pdf

1212-che-2004-description(provisional).pdf

1212-che-2004-drawings.pdf

1212-che-2004-form 1.pdf

1212-che-2004-form 26.pdf

1212-che-2004-form 5.pdf

338-CHE-2005 AMANDED PAGES OF SPECIFICATION 16-10-2009.pdf

338-CHE-2005 EXAMINATION REPORT REPLY RECEIVED 16-10-2009.pdf

338-CHE-2005 OTHER DOCUMENT 16-10-2009.pdf


Patent Number 243562
Indian Patent Application Number 1212/CHE/2004
PG Journal Number 44/2010
Publication Date 29-Oct-2010
Grant Date 26-Oct-2010
Date of Filing 18-Nov-2004
Name of Patentee TVS MOTOR COMPANY LIMITED
Applicant Address JAYALAKSHMI ESTATES, 8 HADDOWS ROAD, CHENNAI-600 006.
Inventors:
# Inventor's Name Inventor's Address
1 ASHOK GUPTA TVS MOTOR COMPANY LIMITED, JAYALAKSHMI ESTATES, 8 HADDOWS ROAD, CHENNAI-600 006.
2 RAGHUPATHY GOVINDARAJAN TVS MOTOR COMPANY LIMITED, JAYALAKSHMI ESTATES, 8 HADDOWS ROAD, CHENNAI-600 006.
3 RAGHAVAN VENKATESAN TVS MOTOR COMPANY LIMITED, JAYALAKSHMI ESTATES, 8 HADDOWS ROAD, CHENNAI-600 006.
PCT International Classification Number B62J35/00
PCT International Application Number N/A
PCT International Filing date
PCT Conventions:
# PCT Application Number Date of Convention Priority Country
1 NA