| Title of Invention | "A FUEL TANK DRAIN STRUCTURE IN A MOTORCYCLE" |
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| Abstract | [Solving Means] An ignition coil 138 is attached to seat rails 16 below a fuel tank 51. An upper side of the ignition coil 138 is covered with a cover member 136. A drain tube 56 is retained by a tube retaining hole 281 provided on the cover member 136. [Effects] The cover member can cover the ignition coil as well as retain the drain tube, and thus the number of parts can be reduced. Moreover, because the drain tube is retained by a tube retaining hole of the cover member, it is unnecessary to change the drain tube and possible to utilize a commercial item as.the drain tube. Accordingly, an increase in costs can be suppressed for a motorcycle. Furthermore, if the cover member retains the drain tube and the drain tube is directly connected to the drain pipe, the drain tube will not deviate from the drain pipe, and it is possible to ensure that the drain tube is connected to the drain pipe. [Selected Drawing] Fig. 2 |
| Full Text | [Detailed Description of the Invention] [0001] [Technical Field to Which the Invention Pertains] The present invention relates to a fuel tank drain structure of a motorcycle. [0002] [Prior Art] As a fuel tank drain structure of a motorcycle, one provided with a drain pipe at a lower part of a fuel tank is known (e.g., refer to Patent Document 1). [0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Utility Model Laid-Open No. Hei 1-30309 (Second Page, Fig. 3) [0004] Hereinafter, Fig. 3 of Patent Document 1 will be described below with Fig. 8. Note that different reference numerals are used. Fig. 8 is a sectional view showing a conventional fuel tank drain structure of a motorcycle. Fig. 8 shows that a fueling connector 422 is attached to an upper portion of a tank 421; a drain pipe 425 is extended from a concave portion 423 of the fueling connector 422 to a bottom 424 of the tank 421; a cup-shaped tip portion 427 of a separately provided drain pipe 426 is made to face a lower end of the drain pipe 425; the drain pipe 426 is hung down along an incline 432 of an air cleaner 431; and the drain pipe 426 is attached to the air cleaner 431 by inserting lock protrusions 433, 434 provided midway to the drain pipe 426 into holes 436, 437 opened on the air cleaner 431. Note that reference numeral 438 is a cap which covers the fueling connector 422. [0005] [Problems to be Solved by the Invention] Because the foregoing drain pipe 426 is integrally provided with the lock protrusions 433, 434 to be attached to the air cleaner 431, the drain pipe 426 is a custom-made article and causes an increase in costs. If it is possible to retain the drain pipe 426 by using a peripheral part without changing the drain pipe 426 itself, a commercial item can be utilized as a drain pipe. Thus, an increase in the number of parts can be suppressed, thereby suppressing an increase in costs. [0006] Meanwhile, because the cup-shaped tip portion 427 of the drain pipe 426 is simply made to face the lower end of the upper drain pipe 425, it is considered that a position of the drain pipe 426 deviates from the drain pipe 425 depending on a positional relationship between the tank 421 and the air cleaner 431. [0007] Thereupon, an object of the present invention is to suppress the increase in costs and prevent the positional deviation of the drain piping connecting portion by modifying the fuel tank drain structure of the motorcycle. [0008] [Means for Solving the Problem] In order to solve the aforementioned object, claim 1 is characterized in that in a motorcycle in which a drain pipe is exposed at a lower portion of a bottom plate of a fuel tank, and a drain tube is provided on a body frame side to face a lower end of the drain pipe, electrical equipment is attached to the body frame below the fuel tank, an upper side of the electrical equipment is covered with a cover member, and the drain tube is retained by a guide portion provided on the cover member. [0009] It is possible to retain the drain tube as well as to cover the electrical equipment by the cover member and to reduce the number of parts. Moreover, because the drain tube is retained by the guide portion of the cover member, it is unnecessary to change the drain tube, and a commercial item can be utilized as the drain tube. [0010] Furthermore, if the drain tube is retained by the cover member and the drain tube is directly connected to the drain pipe, the drain tube will not deviate from the drain pipe. [0011] The invention defined in claim 2 is characterized in that the cover member supports a harness coupler. It is unnecessary to specially provide a support member for the harness coupler and possible to further reduce the number of parts. [0012] The invention defined in claim 3 is characterized in that the electrical equipment is the ignition coil. By covering the ignition coil with the cover member, it is possible to prevent the ignition coil from being exposed to rain water. [0013] [Preferred Embodiment of the Invention] An embodiment of the present invention will be described below based on the accompanying drawings. Note that the drawings are viewed in the direction of reference numerals. [Brief Description of the Drawings] [Fig. 1] A side view of a motorcycle which employs a fuel tank drain structure according to the present invention. [Fig. 2] A sectional view showing a fuel tank and body frame according to the present invention. [Fig. 3] A plan view showing a central body portion according to the present invention. [Fig. 4] A plan view showing essential parts of a cover member and the periphery thereof according to the present invention. [Fig. 5] A sectional view of the cover member according to the present invention. [Fig. 6] A perspective view of essential parts showing that a drain tube is retained according to the present invention. [Fig. 7] Operational views showing the operation of the drain tube according to the present invention. [Fig. 8] A sectional view showing a conventional fuel tank drain structure of a motorcycle.Fig. 1 is a side view of a motorcycle adopting a fuel tank drain structure according to the present invention. A motorcycle 10 is a vehicle in which a body frame 11 includes a head pipe 12 provided at a front end thereof; a main pipe 13 extended from the head pipe 12 substantially rearward and obliquely downward toward the rear; a pivot plate 14 attached to a lower portion of the main pipe 13; a pair of seat rails 16, 16 (only reference numeral 16 on the viewer side is shown) each extended rearward from a left or right side of a rear portion of the main pipe 13; sub-pipes 17, 17 (only reference numeral 17 on the viewer side is shown) connected to respective rear portions of the seat rails 16, 16 and to the pivot plate 14; and a down pipe 18 linearly extended from the head pipe 12 obliquely downward toward the rear, wherein a front fork 21 is steerably attached to the head pipe 12, a front wheel 22 is attached to a lower end of the front fork 21, a handle 23 is attached to upper end portions of the front fork 21, and further, a head lamp 26 and a meter 27 are supported by a front portion stay 24 provided on a front portion of the head pipe 12, a front number plate 31 is attached to the head lamp 26 through a number plate stay 28, a combination switch 42 including an ignition switch and a steering lock system is attached to a top bridge 41 which connects left and right upper portions of the front fork 21, and the surroundings of an upper portion of the combination switch 42 are covered with a switch cover 43. [0014] Moreover, the motorcycle 10 is also the vehicle in which a fuel tank 51 is attached to the main pipe 13; a drain pipe 54 is extended from a connector 52 provided at a fuel filler neck of the fuel tank 51 to a bottom wall 53 thereof; an upper end of a drain tube 56 is connected to a lower end of the drain pipe 54; the drain tube 56 is hung down substantially along the lower portion of the main pipe 13 and the pivot plate 14; both sides of the main pipe 13, front portions of the seat rails 16, 16, and the sub-pipes 17, 17 are connected with side covers 65, 65 (only reference numeral 65 on the viewer side is shown) , as second covers, which are divided into upper and lower pieces, sides of the rear portions of the seat rails 16, 16 at the rear of the side covers 65, 65 are covered with rear cowls 66, 66 (only reference numeral 66 on the viewer side is shown) , as first covers; and end portions of rear cushion units 68, 68 (only reference numeral 68 on the viewer side is shown) are connected to respective rear portions of a swing arm 67 swingably attached to the pivot plate 14, and to respective seat rail 16, 16 sides. [0015] Here, reference numeral 77 denotes a front fender which covers an upper side of the front wheel 22; 78, 78 (only reference numeral 78 on the viewer side is shown) denote left and right front cowls which cover sides of a body front portion including a front portion of the fuel tank 51; 81, 83 denote an engine attached to the main pipe 13, the pivot plate 14 and the down pipe 18, and a transmission integrally provided at a rear portion of this engine, respectively; 85 denotes a carburetor attached to the engine 81 through an intake pipe 86; 87 denotes an air cleaner connected to the carburetor 85 through a connecting tube 88; 91 denotes an exhaust pipe extended from an upper front portion of the engine 81 toward the rear of a body; 92 denotes a muffler connected to a rear end of the exhaust pipe 91; 93 denotes a side stand; 94 denotes a rear wheel attached to a rear end of the swing arm 67; 96 denotes a rear fender which covers an upper side of the rear wheel 94; 97 denotes a rear number plate attached to the rear fender 96; 98 denotes a seat attached to upper portions of the seat rails 16, 16; 101 denotes a passenger grip; and 102 denotes a tail lamp. [0016] Fig. 2 is a sectional view showing a fuel tank and body frame according to the present invention (An arrow in the drawing (front) indicates a front direction of the body. It is the same hereinafter). Fig. 2 shows that a ring-shaped concave portion 131 is formed at the connector 52 of the fuel tank 51; the drain pipe 54 made of a steel pipe is connected to the ring-shaped concave portion 131 and a bottom plate 132 of the fuel tank 51; one end of the drain tube 56 made of rubber is connected to a protrusion portion 54a in which the drain pipe 54 protrudes toward the outside from the bottom plate 132; and the drain tube 56 is extended downward substantially along the lower portion of the main pipe 13 and the pivot plate 14. [0017] Reference numeral 136 is a cover member, which is attached to the seat rails 16, 16 (only reference numeral 16 on the inner side is shown) and covers an upper part of an ignition coil 138 serving as electrical equipment, as well as a member retaining the drain tube 56. [0018] Fig. 3 is a plan view showing a central portion of a body according to the present invention. Fig. 3 shows that the cover member 136 is attached to the left and right seat rails 16, 16; the ignition coil 138 (refer to Fig. 2) is covered with the cover member 136; the drain tube 56 is retained by a tube retaining hole 281 serving as a guide portion opened on the front portion of the cover member 136; and a harness coupler 282 is supported by the cover member 136. [0019] Because the tube retaining hole 281 is a portion formed when the cover member 136 is subjected to press molding, an increase in costs due to provision of the tube retaining hole 281 will be small. For example, the increase in costs can be suppressed compared with the case where a retaining member is specially attached to a cover member for retaining the drain tube 56. [0020] Fig. 4 is a plan view showing essential parts of the cover member and the periphery thereof according to the present invention. Fig. 4 shows that a substantially H-shaped bracket 284 is attached to a lower portion of one seat rail 16, a C-shaped stay 286 is attached to the H-shaped bracket 284 with bolts 285, 285, and arm portions 287, 287 provided on the ignition coil 138 are attached to the C-shaped stay 286 with bolts 288, 288. The harness coupler 282 includes a male coupler 291 and a female couple 292 connected to the male coupler 291. [0021] Fig. 5 is a sectional view of the cover member according to the present invention. Fig. 5 shows that the cover member 136 is subjected to press molding to form a recess portion 294 and a hook portion 295, which is disposed in the vicinity of the recess portion 294, and these recess portion 294 and a hook portion 295 retain the harness coupler 282 . Note that reference numerals 297 and 298 are leg portions for attaching rear portions of the cover member 136 to the seat rails 16, 16. [0022] Fig. 6 is a perspective view of essential parts showing that a drain tube according to the present invention is retained. Fig. 6 shows that first tube retaining hardware 311 is attached to a side of the lower portion of the main pipe 13, second tube retaining hardware 312 is attached to an upper portion of the rear portion of the pivot plate 14, and third tube retaining hardware 313 is attached to a lower potion of the rear portion of the pivot plate 14 so that the drain tube 56 is retained by the tube retaining hole 281 of the cover member 136, the first tube retaining hardware 311, the second tube retaining hardware 312, and the third tube retaining hardware 313. [0023] Figs. 7(a) and (b) are operational views showing the operation of the drain tube according to the present invention. Fig. 7 (a) shows a state immediately after the drain tube 56 is attached to the fuel tank 51. A tip portion 56a of the drain tube 56 is inserted into the tube retaining hole 281 of the cover member 136 from an upper side and passes through the first tube retaining hardware 311, the second tube retaining hardware 312, and the third tube retaining hardware 313 in order. Before the fuel tank 51 is attached to the body frame, a rear end portion 56b of the drain tube 56 is connected to a protrusion portion 54a of the drain pipe 54. Accordingly, the drain tube 56 is in a partially extended state immediately after the drain tube 56 is attached to the fuel tank 51. [0024] In Fig. 7 (b) , a substantially center portion of the drain tube 56, more specifically, a bent portion 56c between the first tube retaining hardware 311 and the second tube retaining hardware 312 is pulled horizontally as indicated by an arrow to generate looseness, thereby cancel out the partially extended state. Thus, it is possible to prevent the drain tube 56 from being squashed and an internal path from being blocked. [0025] As described with reference to Figs. 2 and 3 hereinbefore, in the motorcycle 10 (refer to Fig. 1) in which the drain pipe 54 is exposed at a lower portion of the bottom plate 132 of the fuel tank 51, and the drain tube 56 is provided on the body frame 11 (refer to Fig. 1) side to face the lower end of the drain pipe 54, the present invention is firstly characterized in that the ignition coil 138 is attached to the body frame 11 below the fuel tank 51, more specifically, the seat rails 16, 16; the upper side of the ignition coil 138 is covered with the cover member 136; and the drain tube 56 is retained by the tube retaining hole 281 provided on the cover member 136 retains. [0026] It is possible to retain the drain tube 56 as well as to cover the ignition coil 138 by the cover member 136 and to reduce the number of parts. Moreover, because the drain tube 56 is retained by the tube retaining hole 281 of the cover member 136, it is unnecessary to change the drain tube 56 and possible to utilize a commercial item as the drain tube 56. Thus, it is possible to suppress the increase in costs for the motorcycle 10. [0027] Furthermore, if the drain tube 56 is retained by the cover member 136 and the drain tube 56 is directly connected to the drain pipe 54, the drain tube 56 will not deviate from the drain pipe 54, and it is possible to ensure that the drain tube 56 is connected to the drain pipe 54. [0028] The present invention is secondly characterized in that the cover member 136 supports the harness coupler 282. It is unnecessary to specially provide a support member for the harness coupler 282 and possible to further reduce the number of parts. [0029] The present invention is thirdly characterized in that the electrical equipment is the ignition coil 138. By covering the ignition coil 138 with the cover member 136, it is possible to prevent the ignition coil 138 from being exposed to rain water. Accordingly, reliability of the motorcycle 10 can be enhanced. [0030] Note that the retaining portion for the drain tube is provided on the cover member which covers the upper side of the ignition coil in the present invention. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the retaining portion can be provided on a cover member which covers other electrical equipment (e.g., an engine control unit and a battery). [0031] [Effect of the Invention] The prevent invention exhibits the following effects by the foregoing structure. In a fuel tank drain structure of a motorcycle of claim 1, electrical equipment is attached to the body frame below the fuel tank, the upper side of the electrical equipment is covered with the cover member, and the drain tube is retained by the guide portion provided on the cover member. Accordingly, it is possible to retain the drain tube and cover the electrical equipment by the cover member and reduce the number of parts. Moreover, because the drain tube is retained by the guide portion of the cover member, it is unnecessary to change the drain tube and possible to utilize the commercial item as the drain tube. Thus, the increase in costs can be suppressed for the motorcycle. [0032] Furthermore, if the drain tube is retained by the cover member and the drain tube is directly connected to the drain pipe, the drain tube will not deviate from the drain pipe, and it is possible to ensure that the drain tube is connected to the drain pipe. [0033] In the fuel tank drain structure of a motorcycle of claim 2, the cover member supports the harness coupler. Thus, it is unnecessary to specially provide a support member for the harness coupler and possible to further reduce the number of parts. [0034] In the fuel tank drain structure of a motorcycle of claim 3, the electrical equipment is the ignition coil. Accordingly, by covering the ignition coil with the cover member, it is possible to prevent the ignition coil from being exposed to rain water. Therefore, reliability of the motorcycle can be enhanced. [Explanation of the Reference Numerals] 10...MOTORCYCLE, 11...B0DY FRAME, 16...SEAT RAIL, 51...FUEL TANK, 54..DRAIN PIPE, 56...DRAIN TUBE, 132...BASE PLATE OF FUEL TANK, 136...COVER MEMBER, 138. .ELECTRICAL EQUIPMENT (IGNITION COIL), 281...GUIDE PORTION (TUBE RETAINING HOLE), 282...HARNESS COUPLER [Claim 1] In a motorcycle in which a drain pipe is exposed at a lower portion of a bottom plate of a fuel tank, and a drain tube is provided on a body frame side to face a lower end of the drain pipe, a fuel tank drain structure of the motorcycle characterized in that electrical equipment is attached to the body frame below the fuel tank, an upper side of the electrical equipment is covered with a cover member, and the drain tube is retained by a guide portion provided on the cover member. [Claim 2] The fuel tank drain structure of a motorcycle according to claim 1, characterized in that the cover member supports a harness coupler. [Claim 3] The fuel tank drain structure of a motorcycle according to claim 1, characterized in that the electrical equipment is an ignition coil.4. A motorcycle substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings. 5. The fuel tank drain structure of a motorcycle substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings. |
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| Patent Number | 270846 | |||||||||
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| Indian Patent Application Number | 349/DEL/2004 | |||||||||
| PG Journal Number | 05/2016 | |||||||||
| Publication Date | 29-Jan-2016 | |||||||||
| Grant Date | 22-Jan-2016 | |||||||||
| Date of Filing | 04-Mar-2004 | |||||||||
| Name of Patentee | HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD. | |||||||||
| Applicant Address | 1-1, MINAMIAOYAMA 2-CHOME, MINATO-KU, TOKYO, JAPAN | |||||||||
Inventors:
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| PCT International Classification Number | B 62 J 35/00 | |||||||||
| PCT International Application Number | N/A | |||||||||
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PCT Conventions:
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