Structure for attaching motorcycle fuel tank

• US 20030075659A1
• Filed: 08/23/2002
• Published: 04/24/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 08/31/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha (Honda Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha (Honda Motor Company)
• Inventors: Fukunaga, Hirofumi, Tsutsui, Noriyoshi
• Granted Patent: US 6,641,169 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 248/309.1
• CPC Class Codes: B62J 35/00 Fuel tanks specially adapted for motorcycles or engine-assisted cycles; Arrangements thereof fuel tanks forming part of cycle frames B62K11/00; tanks in general B60K ; closure caps for fuel tanks B60K15/0406

Abstract

When a fuel tank is supported rotatably, one end side of the fuel tank must be fixed by a lock mechanism. Although the background art engaging structure is simple and convenient, when the lock mechanism cannot be provided due to space limitations, a rotating support structure cannot be employed. An engaging member is provided on the front portion of the fuel tank and is inserted from the rear side to be engaged with a retaining member and to be pulled rearwardly for disengagement. A fuel tank is provided at a rear end thereof with a hinge. A bolt relatively moving in a guide groove formed in a side plate of the hinge is supported on a collar fixed to a seat rail. The hinge is slideable and rotatable.

Claims

1. A structure for attaching a motorcycle fuel tank, comprising:

first and second support parts for fixing the fuel tank to a body frame of the motorcycle, said first support part being provided at a front portion of the fuel tank, said second support part being provided at a rear portion of the fuel tank,

wherein said first support part is of an engaging construction, engaging and disengaging the body frame by the front and rear movement of the fuel tank, and said second support part is constructed by a hinge, said hinge being slideable in the front and rear directions and rotatable in the upper and lower directions together with the fuel tank.

2. The structure for attaching a motorcycle fuel tank according to claim 1, further comprising a rotating regulation device, said rotation regulation device regulating the rotation of the fuel tank within a predetermined range.

3. The structure for attaching a motorcycle fuel tank according to claim 2, wherein said rotation regulation device includes a wire cable attached between the front portion of the fuel tank and the body frame.

4. The structure for attaching a motorcycle fuel tank according to claim 2, wherein said rotation regulation device includes a stopper attached to the rear portion of the fuel tank.

5. The structure for attaching a motorcycle fuel tank according to claim 3, wherein said rotation regulation device further includes a stopper attached to the rear portion of the fuel tank.

6. The structure for attaching a motorcycle fuel tank according to claim 1, wherein said first support part is a substantially U-shaped engaging member attached to a side surface of the front portion of the fuel tank, said substantially U-shaped engaging member being opened toward the front and engageable and disengageable with a retaining member provided on the body frame.

7. The structure for attaching a motorcycle fuel tank according to claim 6, wherein said retaining member is a circular part protruding sideward from a plate, said plate being attached between respective side surfaces of a main frame and a sub pipe of the body frame.

8. The structure for attaching a motorcycle fuel tank according to claim 1, wherein said second support part is an attaching plate integrally provided at the rear portion of the fuel tank, said attaching plate being attached to said hinge, said hinge having a substantially U-shaped cross-section opening downwardly.

9. The structure for attaching a motorcycle fuel tank according to claim 8, wherein said hinge includes right and left side plates, each of said right and left side plates being formed with a guide groove, and said hinge is attached to a collar through said guide grooves, said collar being attached to a seat rail of the body frame.

10. A structure for attaching a fuel tank to a body frame of a motorcycle, comprising:

a first support part provided at a front portion of the fuel tank, said first support part being engageable with and disengageable from the body frame by front and rear movement of the fuel tank; and

a second support part provided at a rear portion of the fuel tank, said second support part being slideable in front and rear directions and rotatable in upper and lower directions together with the fuel tank.

11. The structure for attaching a fuel tank according to claim 10, further comprising a rotating regulation device, said rotation regulation device regulating the rotation of the fuel tank within a predetermined range.

12. The structure for attaching a motorcycle fuel tank to a body frame of a motorcycle according to claim 11, wherein said rotation regulation device includes a wire cable attached between the front portion of the fuel tank and the body frame.

13. The structure for attaching a motorcycle fuel tank to a body frame of a motorcycle according to claim 11, wherein said rotation regulation device includes a stopper attached to the rear portion of the fuel tank.

14. The structure for attaching a motorcycle fuel tank to a body frame of a motorcycle according to claim 12, wherein said rotation regulation device further includes a stopper attached to the rear portion of the fuel tank.

15. The structure for attaching a motorcycle fuel tank to a body frame of a motorcycle according to claim 10, wherein said first support part is a substantially U-shaped engaging member attached to a side surface of the front portion of the fuel tank, said substantially U-shaped engaging member being opened toward the front and engageable and disengageable with a retaining member provided on the body frame.

16. The structure for attaching a motorcycle fuel tank to a body frame of a motorcycle according to claim 15, wherein said retaining member is a circular part protruding sideward from a plate, said plate being attached between respective side surfaces of a main frame and a sub pipe of the body frame.

17. The structure for attaching a motorcycle fuel tank to a body frame of a motorcycle according to claim 10, wherein said second support part is an attaching plate integrally provided at the rear portion of the fuel tank, said attaching plate being attached to a hinge, said hinge having a substantially U-shaped cross-section opening downwardly.

18. The structure for attaching a motorcycle fuel tank to a body frame of a motorcycle according to claim 17, wherein said hinge includes right and left side plates, each of said right and left side plates being formed with a guide groove, and said hinge is attached to a collar through said guide grooves, said collar being attached to a seat rail of the body frame.