Saddle-type vehicle

• US 7,690,689 B2
• Filed: 08/25/2006
• Issued: 04/06/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 08/30/2005
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Yamaha Hatsudoki Kabushiki Kaisha (Yamaha Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Yamaha Hatsudoki Kabushiki Kaisha (Yamaha Corporation)
• Inventors: Morikawa, Hisashi, Muroo, Sakio
• Primary Examiner(s): Winner; Tony H.
• Application Number:
  US11/467,485
• Publication Number:
  US 20070200332A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,320 Days
• Field of Search: 280/833, 280/783, 280/834, 280/835, 180/219
• US Class Current: 280/833
• 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 saddle-type vehicle that securely supports a fuel tank with sufficient strength when load in a vertical direction is applied. A pair of frame members extend in a front-and-rear direction of the vehicle and support a fuel tank. The fuel tank has a pair of flanges contacting the outer sides of the frame members. The flanges are attached to the frame members by attachment members inserted from outside in a vehicle width direction.

Claims

1. A saddle vehicle, comprising:

a pair of frame members extending in a front-and-rear direction of the vehicle; and

a fuel tank supported by the frame members, wherein

the fuel tank has a pair of flanges contacting outer sides of the frame members and the fuel tank includes a plurality of bodies, wherein

the bodies include peripheral edges; and

the flanges are attached to the frame members by attachment members inserted from outside in a vehicle width direction,

wherein the flanges are formed with the peripheral edges of the bodies.

2. A saddle vehicle according to claim 1, wherein:

bosses projecting outward in the vehicle width direction are provided on the outer sides of the frame members; and

the flanges of the fuel tank are attached to outer end faces of the bosses.

3. A saddle vehicle according to claim 1, wherein:

the attachment members are tightening bolts;

damping members comprising an elastic member and a collar member formed on the elastic member and a screw hole are inserted into the frame members; and

the fuel tank is fixed to the frame members by screwing the tightening bolts into the screw holes of the collar members via the flanges.

4. A saddle vehicle according to claim 3, wherein the collar members have rotation preventing members for preventing rotation of the collar members by contacting distal ends of the flanges.

5. A saddle vehicle according to claim 3, wherein the collar members have positioning members for positioning the fuel tank in a vertical direction.

6. A saddle vehicle according to claim 1, and further comprising a tank cover for covering attachment areas of the flanges attached to the frame members fitted to the fuel tank.

7. A saddle vehicle according to claim 1, and further comprising:

a cross member for connecting the frame members; and

a supporting member for supporting a rear end of the fuel tank equipped on the cross member such that the rear end of the fuel tank can vertically swing.

8. A saddle vehicle according to claim 7, wherein the supporting member has a supporting portion attached to the cross member, an elastic portion disposed within the supporting portion, a collar inserted into the elastic portion in the vehicle width direction, and a bolt inserted into the collar to support the rear end of the fuel tank.

9. A saddle vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the flanges are connected to each other at upper portions thereof.

10. A saddle vehicle according to claim 9, wherein in a lateral cross-section of the fuel tank where the flanges are attached to the frame members, the flanges extend generally arcuately and laterally downward from the upper portions in a manner such that the flanges expand outside in the vehicle width direction wider as the flanges extend lower.

11. A saddle vehicle according to claim 10, wherein axes of the attachment members extend lower as the axes approach closer to the center of the vehicle in the vehicle width direction.

12. A saddle vehicle, comprising:

a pair of frame members extending in a front-and-rear direction of the vehicle;

a fuel tank supported by the frame members, wherein

the fuel tank has a pair of flanges contacting outer sides of the frame members;

the flanges are attached to the frame members by attachment members inserted from outside in a vehicle width direction;

bosses projecting outward in the vehicle width direction are provided on the outer sides of the frame members; and

the flanges of the fuel tank are attached to outer end faces of the bosses;

wherein outer end faces of the flanges of the fuel tank and the bosses of the frame members are diagonally disposed such that distances between the flanges and between the bosses at a lower position are larger than those at a higher position in the vehicle width direction.