Fuel tank

• US 6,145,691 A
• Filed: 07/02/1999
• Issued: 11/14/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 02/06/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha (Honda Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha (Honda Motor Company)
• Inventors: Watanabe, Teiji, Itou, Ryuta, Inaoka, Hiroshi, Fujinami, Joji
• Primary Examiner(s): CASTELLANO, STEPHEN J
• Application Number:
  US09/346,702
• Time in Patent Office: 501 Days
• Field of Search: 220/562, 220/612, 220/678, 220/680, 220/905, 220/608, 220/DIG. 13, 220/4.14, 280/833, 280/834, 280/835
• US Class Current: 220/562
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 15/03 Fuel tanks chassis frame comprising fluid storage compartment B62D21/16 ; Details of the fuel feeding system related to the fuel tank F02M37/0076
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 15/073 Tank construction specially adapted to the vehicle B60K15/077 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60Y 2200/12 Motorcycles, Trikes; Quads; Scooters
• 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

A fuel tank has a superior outer appearance. A body and a bottom are aligned to each other in a vertical direction to form a sealed closed space for storing fuel between both members. The body is formed as a container having an opening in a downward direction. A connected end part is bent inward in a continuous manner from a lower end of its outer surface. The opening is covered from below with the bottom and its circumferential edge is overlapped on the connected end while its position is set and connected at its entire circumference by brazing.

Claims

1. A fuel tank for a vehicle comprising:

a main tank member having an upper wall, front and rear walls, right and left sidewalls, and a bottom wall, said bottom wall having an opening therein defined by inwardly directed connecting walls; and

a bottom member attached to said main tank member for sealing said opening, said bottom member having peripheral edges which overlap a portion of said inwardly directed connecting walls around the entire periphery of said bottom member,

wherein a central portion of said bottom member and all of said peripheral edges of said bottom member lie in a single plane, said bottom member is substantially flat, and said bottom member is completely flat over an entire surface of said bottom member.

2. The fuel tank according to claim 1, wherein said central portion of said bottom member has a thickness, and said single plane lies completely within said thickness of said bottom member.

3. The fuel tank according to claim 1, wherein a line extending across said upper wall from said right sidewall to said left sidewall crosses no seams in said upper wall.

4. The fuel tank according to claim 1, wherein said bottom member is flat from one of said peripheral edges of said bottom member to every other one of said peripheral edges of said bottom member.

5. The fuel tank according to claim 1, wherein said opening is spaced upwardly from said bottom wall such that peripheral edges of the inwardly directed connecting walls and said peripheral edges of said bottom member are not visible when said fuel tank is viewed from the side.

6. The fuel tank according to claim 1, further comprising interior sidewalls extending at least partially upwardly from said bottom wall.

7. The fuel tank according to claim 1, further comprising a stepped portion extending at least partially upwardly and inwardly from said bottom wall, said inwardly directed connecting walls being formed at interior portions of said stepped portion.

8. The fuel tank according to claim 1, wherein peripheral edges of the inwardly directed connecting walls are not visible when said bottom member is attached to said main tank member.

9. A fuel tank for a vehicle comprising:

a main tank member having an upper wall, front and rear walls, right and left sidewalls, and a bottom wall, said bottom wall having an opening therein defined by inwardly directed connecting walls; and

a bottom member attached to said main tank member for sealing said opening, said bottom member having peripheral edges which overlap a portion of said inwardly directed connecting walls around the entire periphery of said bottom member,

wherein a central portion of said bottom member and all of said peripheral edges of said bottom member lie in a single plane, said bottom member is substantially flat, and said bottom member is flat over an entire surface of said bottom member from one of said peripheral edges of said bottom member to every other one of said peripheral edges of said bottom member.

10. The fuel tank according to claim 9, wherein said central portion of said bottom member has a thickness, and said single plane lies completely within said thickness of said bottom member.

11. The fuel tank according to claim 9, wherein said opening is spaced upwardly from said bottom wall such that peripheral edges of the inwardly directed connecting walls and said peripheral edges of said bottom member are not visible when said fuel tank is viewed from the side.

12. The fuel tank according to claim 11, further comprising interior sidewalls extending at least partially upwardly from said bottom wall.

13. The fuel tank according to claim 11, further comprising a stepped portion extending at least partially upwardly and inwardly from said bottom wall, said inwardly directed connecting walls being formed at interior portions of said stepped portion.