Canister-holding structure for supporting a cylindrical canister in a vehicle, combined canister and canister-holding structure, and motorcycle incorporating same

• US 20100065362A1
• Filed: 09/09/2009
• Published: 03/18/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 09/16/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd. (Honda Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd. (Honda Motor Company)
• Inventors: Shimura, Takeshi, Yamamoto, Takashi, Nihei, Hideo, Takaku, Iwao, Kawazumi, Takeji, Udono, Takashi
• Granted Patent: US 8,118,128 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 180/219
• CPC Class Codes: B62J 37/00 Arrangements of fuel supply lines, taps, or the like, on motor cycles or engine-assisted cycles
• CPC Class Codes: F02M 25/0854 Details of the absorption canister
• CPC Class Codes: F16B 7/0433 for rods or tubes being in parallel relationship

Abstract

A canister holding structure for mounting an evaporative emissions canister, having a cylindrical body portion, to a vehicle body. A central axis of the cylindrical body portion extends in a direction other than perpendicular to a ground surface. The canister holding structure includes a holding member, including an annular portion which substantially surrounds the cylindrical body portion of the canister, and a fixing portion for attaching to the vehicle body. Positioning structure is provided for positioning the canister in relation to the holding member. The positioning structure is provided to both the annular portion and the canister. In one illustrative embodiment, the positioning structure includes at least one projection provided on a periphery of the cylindrical body portion of the canister, and multiple holes provided in the annular portion of the holding member, where each of the multiple holes is engageable with the projection.

Claims

1. A canister holding structure for mounting a cylindrical canister to a vehicle body such that a central axis of the cylindrical canister extends in a direction other than a direction perpendicular to a ground surface, the canister holding structure comprising:

a holding member for holding the canister, the holding member including an annular portion for placement substantially surrounding a cylindrical body portion of the canister, and a fixing portion configured for attachment to the vehicle body; and

positioning structure for positioning the canister at a predetermined position in the holding member, the positioning structure provided to the annular portion and the canister, wherein the positioning structure comprises;

at least one projection provided on a periphery of the cylindrical body portion of the canister; and

a plurality of holes formed in the annular portion of the holding member, each of the holes being engageable with the projection.

5. The canister holding structure according to claim 1, wherein said at least one projection comprises a single projection that is provided circumferentially.

8. The canister holding structure according to claim 1, wherein said at least one projection comprises a plurality of projections that are provided circumferentially.

12. The canister holding structure according to claim 1, wherein a joint, comprising a bent pipe to which auxiliary piping is connected, is rotatably provided at an end of the canister in the axial direction.

16. The canister holding structure according to claim 12, wherein the joint is provided with a flange portion that is connected to a through hole provided in the canister body, and further comprising a retainer that engages with the flange portion so that the flange portion comes into intimate contact with the through hole;

and a retainer holder that fixedly holds the retainer.

17. The canister holding structure according to any claim 12, wherein positioning of the joint with respect to a direction of its rotation is accomplished by coupling the auxiliary piping to the joint, and by fixing the auxiliary piping to the vehicle body.

2. A canister holding structure for mounting a cylindrical canister to a vehicle body such that a central axis of the cylindrical canister extends in a direction other than a direction perpendicular to a ground surface, the canister holding structure comprising:

a holding member for holding the canister, the holding member including an annular portion for placement substantially surrounding a cylindrical body portion of the canister, and a fixing portion configured for attachment to the vehicle body; and

positioning structure for positioning the canister at a predetermined position in the holding member, the positioning structure provided to the annular portion and the canister, wherein the positioning structure comprises;

a plurality of recesses provided in a periphery of the cylindrical body portion of the canister; and

at least one projection provided on the annular portion of the holding member and engageable with any one of the recesses.

3. The canister holding structure according to claim 2, wherein

a large-diameter portion is provided on the periphery of the cylindrical body portion of the canister,

the recesses are provided to the large-diameter portion, and

a stopper portion is provided to the annular portion of the holding member, the stopper portion engaging with an end face portion of the large-diameter portion in its axial direction, thereby to restrict relative movement between the canister and the holding member in the axial direction, when the projection provided on the annular portion engages one of the recesses.

4. The canister holding structure according to claim 3, wherein

the large-diameter portion is provided in a central portion of the cylindrical body portion of the canister in the axial direction,

the recesses are provided in both end portions of the large-diameter portion in the axial direction, and

a pair of holding members that cover substantially half a circumferential surface of the cylindrical body portion with respect to the axial direction are attached to the cylindrical body portion on both sides in the axial direction.

6. The canister holding structure according to claim 2, wherein said at least one projection comprises a single projection that is provided circumferentially.

7. The canister holding structure according to claim 3, wherein said at least one projection comprises a single projection that is provided circumferentially.

9. The canister holding structure according to claim 2, wherein said at least one projection comprises a plurality of projections that are provided circumferentially.

10. The canister holding structure according to claim 3, wherein said at least one projection comprises a plurality of projections that are provided circumferentially.

11. The canister holding structure according to claim 4, wherein said at least one projection comprises a plurality of projections that are provided circumferentially.

13. The canister holding structure according to claim 2, wherein a joint, comprising a bent pipe to which auxiliary piping is connected, is rotatably provided at an end of the canister in the axial direction.

14. The canister holding structure according to claim 3, wherein a joint, comprising a bent pipe to which auxiliary piping is connected, is rotatably provided at an end of the canister in the axial direction.

15. The canister holding structure according to claim 4, wherein a joint, comprising a bent pipe to which auxiliary piping is connected, is rotatably provided at an end of the canister in the axial direction.

18. In a motorcycle having a vehicle body frame comprising a tubular frame member, the improvement comprising a combination of a cylindrical canister and canister holding structure for mounting the canister to a vehicle body such that a central axis of the cylindrical canister extends in a direction other than a direction perpendicular to a ground surface, the canister holding structure comprising:

a holding member for holding the canister, the holding member including an annular portion for placement substantially surrounding a cylindrical body portion of the canister, and a fixing portion configured for attachment to the vehicle body; and

positioning structure for positioning the canister at a predetermined position in the holding member, the positioning structure provided to the annular portion and the canister, wherein the positioning structure comprises;

at least one projection provided on a periphery of the cylindrical body portion of the canister; and

a plurality of holes formed in the annular portion of the holding member, each of the holes being engageable with the projection.

19. In a motorcycle having a vehicle body frame comprising a tubular frame member, the improvement comprising a combination of a cylindrical canister and canister holding structure for mounting the canister to a vehicle body such that a central axis of the cylindrical canister extends in a direction other than a direction perpendicular to a ground surface, the canister holding structure comprising:

a holding member for holding the canister, the holding member including an annular portion for placement substantially surrounding a cylindrical body portion of the canister, and a fixing portion configured for attachment to the vehicle body; and

positioning structure for positioning the canister at a predetermined position in the holding member, the positioning structure provided to the annular portion and the canister, wherein the positioning structure comprises;

a plurality of recesses provided in a periphery of the cylindrical body portion of the canister; and

at least one projection provided on the annular portion of the holding member and engageable with any one of the recesses.

20. The motorcycle with the canister holding structure according to claim 19, wherein

a large-diameter portion is provided on the periphery of the cylindrical body portion of the canister,

the recesses are provided to the large-diameter portion, and

a stopper portion is provided to the annular portion of the holding member, the stopper portion engaging with an end face portion of the large-diameter portion in its axial direction, thereby to restrict relative movement between the canister and the holding member in the axial direction, when the projection provided on the annular portion engages one of the recesses.