Saddle-riding type vehicle with fuel pump

• US 7,533,904 B2
• Filed: 06/30/2006
• Issued: 05/19/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 07/05/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Yamaha Hatsudoki Kabushiki Kaisha (Yamaha Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Yamaha Hatsudoki Kabushiki Kaisha (Yamaha Corporation)
• Inventors: Abe, Katsuhisa, Koike, Munetaka, Shiraishi, Takushirou
• Primary Examiner(s): Dickson; Paul N
• Assistant Examiner(s): ADAMS, TASHIANA R
• Application Number:
  US11/479,941
• Publication Number:
  US 20070023218A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,054 Days
• Field of Search: 280/834, 280/833, 280/835, 280/219
• US Class Current: 280/834
• 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 pump for a vehicle is resistant to damage and effectively uses fuel in a fuel tank. The fuel tank is saddle-shaped and straddles an upper side frame section of the vehicle. A left side tank section extends downward on a left side of the upper side frame section and a right side tank section extends downward on a right side. A fuel pump in the interior of the fuel tank is fixed on the bottom surface of either the left or right side tank section. For off-road saddle-riding type vehicles, the fuel pump is provided anterior to a fuel tank central portion when viewed from a side of the vehicle to ensure easy handling and foot landing properties.

Claims

1. A vehicle comprising:

a frame extending in a front and a rear direction;

a fuel tank having a saddle shape and straddling the frame, the fuel tank comprising a left side tank section extending downward on a left side of the frame facing a travel direction and a right side tank section extending downward on a right side of the frame facing the travel direction; and

a fuel pump mounted inside of the fuel tank for supplying fuel to an engine, wherein

the fuel pump is fixed in a bottom section adjacent to a front edge section of a lowermost portion of an inside bottom surface that slopes downward toward the front direction of either the left or right side tank section so as not to move, and

a fuel suction opening is positioned forward of the fuel pump.

2. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein the fuel pump is fixed on a lowermost inside bottom surface of the left or right side tank sections.

3. The vehicle of claim 1, further comprising:

an electrical wiring with one end mounted to the fuel pump;

an interior connector member mounted to an other end of the electrical wiring; and

an exterior connector member connected to the interior connector member and configured in a rear portion of the fuel tank a predetermined distance from the fuel pump.

4. The vehicle of claim 3, further comprising a sealing member including the exterior connector member,

wherein the sealing member seals a space between the fuel tank and at least one of the interior connector member and the exterior connector member, and is mounted in a flat surface section in the rear portion of said fuel tank.

5. The vehicle of claim 3, wherein the exterior connector member is integrally formed in the rear portion of the fuel tank.

6. The vehicle of claim 3, further comprising:

a first piping member for supplying fuel to an outside of the fuel tank; and

a sealing member which includes the exterior connector member and a piping member connection section in an integral fashion, and which is mounted to the rear portion of the fuel tank,

wherein one end section of the first piping member is connected to the fuel pump and an other end section of the first piping member is connected to the piping member connection section of the sealing member from inside of the fuel tank, and

wherein fuel passing through the first piping member is supplied to the outside from the rear portion of the fuel tank.

7. The vehicle of claim 6, further comprising:

a return piping member for returning excess fuel to the fuel tank; and

a first exterior fixing member having a first fuel path section and to which the return piping member is connected,

wherein the first exterior fixing member is fixed in an exterior of a bottom surface on which the fuel pump is fixed, and

fuel passing through the return piping member is returned to the fuel tank via the first fuel path section of the first exterior fixing member.

8. The vehicle of claim 1, further comprising:

a first interior fixing member having a second fuel path section, and which mounts the fuel pump to a bottom inside surface of either the left or right side tank section, and

a second piping member for supplying fuel to an outside of the fuel tank,

wherein one end section of the second piping member is connected to the fuel pump,

an other end section of the second piping member is connected to the first interior fixing member, and

fuel passing through the second piping member is supplied to the outside via the second fuel path section of the first interior fixing member.

9. The vehicle of claim 8, further comprising:

a second exterior fixing member which has a third fuel path section connected to the second fuel path section of the first interior fixing member, and which is mounted to an outside bottom surface of the fuel tank,

wherein fuel passing through the second fuel path section of the first interior fixing member is supplied to the outside via the third fuel path section of the second exterior fixing member.

10. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein boss sections protruding inward are provided on the bottom surface of either the left or right side tank section, and

a second interior fixing member which has a predetermined length, and to which the fuel pump is mounted, is mounted in an inner side portion of the boss sections.

11. The vehicle of claim 10, wherein through holes for mounting the fuel pump are provided in the second interior fixing member.