Saddle riding type vehicle and tank unit

Abstract

To provide a saddle riding type vehicle of such a constitution that a fuel tank hardly causes breakage even when a strong shock is applied onto a vehicle lateral surface.SOLUTION: A saddle riding type vehicle 1 includes a vehicle body frame 2a, a seat 14, a fuel tank 7, an engine 8 and a tank frame 30. A driver sits on the seat 14. Fuel is stored on the fuel tank 7 in such a pressure state as to be higher than an atmospheric pressure. The engine 8 generates a driving force by using fuel stored on the fuel tank 7. The tank frame 30 supports the fuel tank 7 and, at the same time, is connected with the vehicle body frame 2a. A rear end part of the fuel tank 7 is located on the rear side than a rear end part of the seat 14. The tank frame 30 covers a surface of the outer side in a vehicle width direction of the fuel tank 7.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present application primarily relates to a saddle-type vehicle equipped with a fuel tank. [Background technology]

[0002] The motorcycle of Patent Document 1 includes a body frame and a fuel tank. The body frame includes an upper rear frame and a lower rear frame arranged vertically at the rear of the vehicle. A fuel tank is arranged between the upper rear frame and the lower rear frame, and is fixed to the upper rear frame and the lower rear frame using bands. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] JP 2007-149606 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] In Patent Document 1, the outer surface of the fuel tank in the vehicle width direction is only covered with a band or a fairing and is not adequately protected, so the fuel tank is easily damaged if the vehicle rolls over and receives a strong impact on the side of the vehicle.

[0005] The present application has been made in consideration of the above circumstances, and its main object is to provide a saddle-type vehicle having a fuel tank that is less likely to be damaged even when a strong impact is applied to the side of the vehicle. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] The problem to be solved by the present application is as described above. Next, the means for solving this problem and the effects thereof will be described.

[0007] According to a first aspect of the present application, there is provided a saddle-type vehicle having the following configuration. That is, the saddle-type vehicle includes a body frame, a seat, a fuel tank, a power source, and a tank frame. A driver sits on the seat. The fuel tank stores fuel at a pressure higher than atmospheric pressure. The power source generates driving force using the fuel stored in the fuel tank. The tank frame supports the fuel tank and is connected to the body frame. The rear end of the fuel tank is located rearward of the rear end of the seat. The tank frame covers the outer surface of the fuel tank in the vehicle width direction.

[0008] According to a second aspect of the present application, there is provided a saddle-type vehicle having the following configuration. That is, the saddle-type vehicle includes a body frame, a fuel tank, a power source, and a tank frame. The fuel tank protrudes outward in the vehicle width direction beyond the body frame, and fuel is stored in the fuel tank at a pressure higher than atmospheric pressure. The power source generates driving force using fuel stored in the fuel tank. The tank frame supports the fuel tank and is connected to the body frame. At least a portion of the fuel tank protrudes outward in the vehicle width direction beyond the body frame. The tank frame covers the outer surface of the fuel tank in the vehicle width direction.

[0009] According to a third aspect of the present application, there is provided a tank unit having the following configuration. That is, the tank unit includes a fuel tank, a controller, and a tank frame. Fuel is stored in the fuel tank at a pressure higher than atmospheric pressure. The controller is connected to the fuel tank and controls the fuel supplied from the fuel tank to a fuel supply source. The tank frame supports the controller and the fuel tank, and includes a connecting portion that is connected to a vehicle body, and covers the outer surface of the fuel tank. Effect of the Invention

[0010] According to the present application, it is possible to provide a saddle-type vehicle having a fuel tank that is less likely to be damaged even when a strong impact is applied to the side of the vehicle. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0011] [Figure 1] 1 is a side view of a saddle-type vehicle according to a first embodiment. [Diagram 2] 1 is a plan view of a saddle-type vehicle according to a first embodiment. [Diagram 3] FIG. 2 is a rear view of the saddle-type vehicle according to the first embodiment. [Figure 4] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a frame configuration and a fuel tank according to the first embodiment. [Diagram 5] FIG. 2 is a side view of a frame configuration and a fuel tank according to the first embodiment. [Figure 6] FIG. 11 is a side view of a saddle-type vehicle according to a second embodiment. [Figure 7] FIG. 11 is a rear view of the saddle-type vehicle according to the second embodiment. [Figure 8] FIG. 11 is a perspective view of a frame configuration and a fuel tank according to a second embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0012] Next, an embodiment of the present application will be described with reference to the drawings. First, a saddle-ride type vehicle 1 of a first embodiment will be described with reference to Fig. 1 to Fig. 3. Fig. 1 to Fig. 3 are a side view, a plan view, and a rear view of the saddle-ride type vehicle 1 of the first embodiment, respectively. Fig. 2 and Fig. 3 also show the saddle-ride type vehicle 1 with the tank cover 18 removed to make it easier to see the fuel tank 7 and the like.

[0013] In the following description, the left-right direction of the saddle riding type vehicle 1 is defined as the direction seen by a driver riding on the saddle riding type vehicle 1. Therefore, the front-rear direction corresponds to the vehicle length direction, and the left-right direction corresponds to the vehicle width direction. Furthermore, the vertical direction and the up-down direction correspond to the height direction. As shown in Fig. 1, the saddle riding type vehicle 1 includes a vehicle body 2, a front wheel 3, and a rear wheel 4. The front wheel 3 and the rear wheel 4 are arranged with a gap between them in the vehicle length direction.

[0014] The saddle-type vehicle 1 is a riding vehicle. In particular, the saddle-type vehicle 1 is a type of vehicle on which a driver straddles and rides. The saddle-type vehicle 1 may be a vehicle for transportation purposes, or may be a leisure vehicle for leisure purposes.

[0015] The vehicle body 2 includes a vehicle body frame 2a and a cowl 2b. The vehicle body frame 2a is made of elongated pipe-shaped or solid members, and is a member that forms the framework of the saddle-riding type vehicle 1. The cowl 2b is a resin member that covers the front and sides of the saddle-riding type vehicle 1. The cowl 2b is provided for the purposes of streamlining the wind while the vehicle is running, improving the appearance, protecting the equipment, etc. The cowl 2b may be omitted.

[0016] A front wheel 3 is attached to the body frame 2a via front forks 5. A pair of front forks 5 are arranged on the left and right sides of the front wheel 3 when viewed from the front. The front forks 5 are a telescopic front suspension. Note that instead of the front forks 5, the front wheel 3 may be attached to the body 2 by another method.

[0017] Furthermore, a rear wheel 4 is attached to the body frame 2a via a swing arm 6. The swing arm 6 supports the rear wheel 4 so that it can swing. Instead of using the swing arm 6, the rear wheel 4 may be attached to the body 2 by another method.

[0018] The saddle-type vehicle 1 is a motorcycle having one front wheel 3 and one rear wheel 4. However, the saddle-type vehicle 1 may be a three-wheeled motor vehicle having two front wheels 3 and one rear wheel 4, or a three-wheeled motor vehicle having one front wheel 3 and two rear wheels 4. The saddle-type vehicle 1 may also be a vehicle having two or more front wheels 3 and two or more rear wheels 4.

[0019] The fuel tank 7 is a container that stores hydrogen as a gaseous fuel. However, the gaseous fuel is not limited to hydrogen, and may be, for example, natural gas. The gaseous fuel is compressed to a pressure higher than atmospheric pressure and filled into the fuel tank 7. The internal pressure of the fuel tank 7 is, for example, 10 MPa or more, more specifically, 30 MPa or more. Therefore, the fuel tank 7 has a structure, specifically, a material and a thickness, that can withstand a high-pressure environment.

[0020] Furthermore, the fuel tank 7 has a cylindrical shape in order to disperse the effects of pressure. However, the shape of the fuel tank 7 is merely an example, and it may have other shapes such as a rectangular parallelepiped or a sphere. The gaseous fuel stored in the fuel tank 7 is supplied to the engine 8, which is the driving source, via a fuel pipe, which will be described later. The layout of the fuel tank 7 will be described later.

[0021] An intake structure 11 is provided near the engine 8. The intake structure 11 is a structure for supplying air to the engine 8. Specifically, the intake structure 11 includes an air cleaner box and an intake pipe. The air cleaner box removes dust and the like contained in the intake air. The air purified by the air cleaner box flows toward the engine 8 through the intake pipe. If the engine 8 has multiple cylinders, an intake manifold is further provided in the intake structure 11. The engine 8 is disposed between the front wheels 3 and the rear wheels 4 in the vehicle length direction. The engine 8 is also disposed below the seat 14. In detail, the seat 14 is disposed at a lower position than the engine 8, and the engine 8 and the seat 14 overlap in a plan view.

[0022] The engine 8 is attached to the body frame 2a. The engine 8 generates power using gaseous fuel. In detail, the engine 8 includes a cylinder case and a crankcase. A mixture of gaseous fuel and air is supplied to a cylinder provided in the cylinder case. When the mixture in the cylinder is compressed, the mixture is ignited, causing a piston to move linearly. The linear motion of the piston is converted into rotational motion by a connecting rod and transmitted to the crankshaft.

[0023] The crankcase houses a crankshaft and a transmission gear. In this embodiment, the transmission gear is provided as part of the engine 8. Alternatively, a transmission may be provided separately from the engine 8. The power generated as described above is transmitted to the rear wheel 4, which is a driven wheel, via the drive chain 10. The transmission of drive from the engine 8 to the rear wheel 4 is not limited to the drive chain 10, and a belt or a shaft may also be used. Furthermore, the rear wheel 4 may be the only driven wheel, or both the front wheel 3 and the rear wheel 4 may be driven wheels.

[0024] The fuel tank 7 may also be a container for storing liquid fuel such as liquefied hydrogen or LPG. In this case, the liquid fuel is mixed with air in a vaporized state to form an air-fuel mixture, which is then ignited. The ignition method is not limited to a method using an ignition plug, and a method of spontaneous ignition by creating high pressure inside the cylinder may also be used.

[0025] The injector provided in the engine 8 injects fuel into the cylinder during the compression process of compressing the inside of the cylinder. The injector also injects fuel at high pressure in order to inject the fuel against the internal pressure of the cylinder. For this reason, the fuel stored in the fuel tank 7 is maintained at a high pressure that is sufficiently higher than atmospheric pressure. The fuel supplied from the fuel tank 7 is adjusted to a pressure suitable for injection and then injected from the injector.

[0026] The exhaust structure 12 is a structure for discharging exhaust gas generated by combustion in the engine 8. The exhaust structure 12 includes an exhaust pipe and a catalyst section. The exhaust gas generated by the engine 8 flows through the exhaust pipe to the catalyst section. The catalyst section is an area in which a catalyst is disposed that reduces the concentration of nitrogen oxides generated by the combustion of air. The concentration of nitrogen oxides is reduced by the exhaust gas passing through the catalyst section. The exhaust gas that has passed through the catalyst section is discharged to the outside. If the engine 8 has multiple cylinders, the exhaust structure 12 is further provided with an exhaust manifold.

[0027] The power source is not limited to the engine 8. The power source includes various devices or combinations of devices that generate driving force using fuel. When the saddle-type vehicle 1 is a fuel cell vehicle, the power source is a combination of a fuel cell and a motor. That is, the fuel cell generates electric power using a fuel such as hydrogen and oxygen. The motor generates driving force using the electric power generated by the fuel cell to drive the rear wheels 4. When the saddle-type vehicle 1 is a hybrid vehicle, the power source is a combination of an engine, a generator, and a motor. When the saddle-type vehicle 1 is a hybrid vehicle, the power source may be either a series type or a parallel type. The series type is a type in which the engine's power is used only to generate electricity for the generator, and the motor is driven by the electric power generated by the generator to run the vehicle. The parallel type is a type in which the vehicle is run using both the driving force generated by the engine and the driving force generated by the motor.

[0028] A steering handle 13 is provided at the front of the vehicle body 2. The steering handle 13 is connected to the upper end of the front fork 5. When the driver performs a steering operation to turn the steering handle 13, the front fork 5 turns. This allows the saddle riding type vehicle 1 to turn. The saddle riding type vehicle 1 is a lean type vehicle in which the vehicle body 2 is tilted toward the center of turning with respect to the road surface when turning.

[0029] The saddle-type vehicle 1 further includes a seat 14 and a step 15. The driver sits on the seat 14 and places his / her feet on the rod-shaped step 15 arranged on the side of the vehicle body 2. In this manner, the driver rides astride the seat 14, and therefore the saddle-type vehicle 1 is a saddle-type vehicle.

[0030] A top cover 17 is provided in front of the seat 14. The top cover 17 has an upwardly protruding shape and has a space formed therein. In the space inside the top cover 17, electronic components such as a control device, tools, a helmet, etc. can be stored. The top cover 17 is not an essential component and can be omitted.

[0031] Furthermore, the fuel tank 7 is covered by a tank cover 18. This makes it possible to prevent sunlight from directly irradiating the fuel tank 7. The tank cover 18 may cover the entire fuel tank 7, or may cover only the upper surface.

[0032] Next, the structure, layout, and tank-related parts of the fuel tank 7 will be described with reference to Figures 1 to 5. In the following description, "two directions coincide" includes not only a configuration in which the two directions strictly coincide, but also a configuration in which the two directions approximately coincide.

[0033] First, a structure of the fuel tank 7 will be described. The saddle riding type vehicle 1 is provided with two fuel tanks 7. Each fuel tank 7 includes a tank body 51 and a connection portion 52. The number of fuel tanks 7 provided in the saddle riding type vehicle 1 is not limited to two, and may be one or three or more.

[0034] The tank body 51 is a container-like portion in which fuel is stored. As described above, the tank body 51 has a cylindrical shape with both ends closed. In this embodiment, when mounted on the vehicle body 2, the fuel tank 7 is disposed so that its longitudinal direction (i.e., axial direction) coincides with the front-rear direction. In this embodiment, the end faces of the tank body 51 are formed in a shape that bulges outward in the axial direction as it progresses radially inward. Hereinafter, the axis of the fuel tank 7 will be referred to as the "tank axis."

[0035] The connection part 52 is a portion to which the fuel pipe 41 is connected. The connection part 52 is provided at an end of the tank body 51 in the tank axial direction. In this embodiment, the connection part 52 is provided at the rear end of the tank body 51. The connection part 52 is disposed on the tank axis. The connection part 52 is formed to have a cross-sectional shape perpendicular to the tank axis that is smaller than the tank body 51. The connection part 52 includes a fuel inlet / outlet and a valve. Therefore, the fuel replenished during refueling flows to the connection part 52 through the fuel pipe 41, and is supplied to the tank body 51 through the valve and the inlet / outlet of the connection part 52.

[0036] In addition, when fuel is used, the fuel stored in the tank body 51 is discharged through the inlet / outlet and valve of the connection part 52, and is supplied to the engine 8 through the fuel pipe 41. In addition, the fuel pipe 41 may be connected to a safety valve that releases fuel when an abnormality occurs. However, the safety valve can be omitted from the connection part 52. The connection part 52 is not limited to the rear end of the tank body 51, and may be provided, for example, at the front end of the tank body 51. Various related parts may be connected to the fuel pipe 41. For example, a pressure sensor for detecting the pressure state, an opening / closing valve for switching the piping route, a pressure reducing valve for reducing the pressure to a pressure suitable for fuel injection, etc. may be interposed. The related parts may be provided with a valve for selecting the piping route. For example, when refueling the fuel tank 7, the control may be performed to open a passage from the nozzle attachment part 42 to the fuel tank 7, which will be described later, and close the other passages. In addition, for example, when fuel is supplied to the engine 8, the control may be performed to open a passage from the fuel tank 7 to the engine 8, and close the other passages.

[0037] 2 and 3 show the layout of the fuel tank 7 in the vehicle width direction. As shown in FIG. 2, the fuel tanks 7 are arranged on the left and right sides of the center in the vehicle width direction. The two fuel tanks 7 are arranged with a gap between them in the vehicle width direction. In other words, the two fuel tanks 7 are not located in the center in the vehicle width direction, but are located outside the center in the vehicle width direction. In particular, in the first embodiment, as shown in FIG. 3, the rear wheels 4 and the fuel tanks 7 do not overlap in the vehicle width direction. In other words, the inner surface of the fuel tank 7 is located outside the outer surface of the rear wheels 4 in the vehicle width direction. The tank axis is located outside the rear wheels 4 in the vehicle width direction.

[0038] Note that these layouts are merely examples, and the fuel tanks 7 may be arranged so as to be stacked one above the other in the center in the vehicle width direction. Components related to the fuel tank 7 are arranged between the two fuel tanks 7, as described below. The fuel tank 7 also includes a portion that is located outboard of the body frame 2a (or the seat 14) in the vehicle width direction. As such, there is a possibility that the fuel tank 7 may collide with the road surface in the event of a fall, so a tank frame 30, described below, is provided.

[0039] The layout of the fuel tank 7 in the vehicle length direction will be described with reference to FIG. 1 and FIG. 2. The fuel tank 7 is located relatively rearward. More specifically, it is as follows. In this layout, the rear end of the fuel tank 7 is located rearward of the rear end of the seat 14. Therefore, even if the front end of the fuel tank 7 is located forward of the rear end of the seat 14, it is still within the scope of this layout. Here, the seat 14 is a seat on which the driver sits, and does not include a tandem seat on which a passenger sits. In addition, the front end of the fuel tank 7 is located rearward of the rear end of the step 15. In addition, the front end of the fuel tank 7 is located rearward of the rear end of the engine 8, which is the power source. In addition, the fuel tank 7 is located so as to overlap with the rear wheel 4 in the vehicle length direction. In more detail, the rear end of the fuel tank 7 is located rearward of the rear end of the rear wheel 4.

[0040] In this embodiment, the center position of the tank body 51 in the front-rear direction is located rearward of the rear end of the seat 14. More specifically, in a side view of the vehicle body, the center position of the tank body 51 in the front-rear direction is located near the axle position of the rear wheel 4. The rear end surface of the tank body 51 is located at the rear end of the rear wheel 4. The front end of the tank body 51 is located near the front end position of the seat.

[0041] The layout of the fuel tank 7 in the height direction will be described with reference to Figures 1 and 3. The fuel tank 7 is located at a relatively high position. More specifically, it is as follows. The upper end of the fuel tank 7 is located at a position higher than the upper end of the seat 14. The axial position of the fuel tank 7 is located at a position lower than the upper end of the seat 14. The lower end of the fuel tank 7 is located at a position lower than the lower end of the seat 14. In addition, the lower end of the fuel tank 7 is located at a position lower than the upper end of the engine 8.

[0042] More specifically, in this embodiment, the tank axis is located below the upper end of the seat and above the upper end of the rear wheel in a side view of the vehicle body. The tank axis is also located below the handlebars and below the upper end of the cylinder. The tank axis is located below the head pipe, which is a frame part that rotatably supports the handlebars. The lower end of the tank body 51 is also located below the upper end of the rear wheel and below the upper end of the engine.

[0043] In addition, in a plan view of the vehicle body, the vehicle width direction outer side surface of the tank body 51 is located outside the vehicle width direction outer end of the seat 14. In addition, the vehicle width direction inner side surface of the tank body 51 is located inside the vehicle width direction outer side surface of the seat 14. In this embodiment, the tank axis position is located outside the vehicle width direction outer end of the seat 14. In addition, the vehicle width direction outer end of the tank body 51 is located outside the vehicle width direction of the side cowl of the body frame 2a or the cowl 2b that is arranged on the side of the vehicle. In addition, the vehicle width direction outer side surface of the tank body 51 is located outside the vehicle width direction outer end of the steering handle 13 in a straight traveling state.

[0044] The above-mentioned layout of fuel tank 7 in the vehicle width direction, vehicle length direction, and height direction is one example, and the above-mentioned positional relationship does not have to be established. For example, the front end of fuel tank 7 may be located forward of the rear end of seat 14. Alternatively, the rear end of fuel tank 7 may be located forward of the front end of seat 14. The opposite layout may also be established under other conditions than those mentioned above.

[0045] Next, a description will be given of parts related to the fuel tank 7. As shown in Fig. 4, around the fuel tank 7, there are arranged a nozzle attachment portion 42, a manifold 43, a pressure reducing valve 44, a tank frame 30, and a band 45 as parts related to the fuel tank 7.

[0046] The nozzle attachment portion 42 is a portion to which the fuel refill nozzle 100 is connected during refueling. When the fuel refill nozzle 100 is connected to the nozzle attachment portion, it becomes possible to refill the fuel pipe 41 with high-pressure gas fuel from a fuel source through the fuel refill nozzle 100. The fuel refilled from the fuel refill nozzle 100 is stored in the tank body 51 through the fuel pipe 41 and the connection portion 52. The nozzle attachment portion 42 is located between the two fuel tanks 7 in the vehicle width direction. In addition, the nozzle attachment portion 42 is located between the front end and the rear end of the fuel tank 7 in the vehicle length direction. Specifically, the nozzle attachment portion 42 is located rearward of the rear end of the tank body 51 and forward of the connection portion 52 provided at the rear end of the tank body 51. Therefore, the nozzle attachment portion 42 can be arranged by utilizing the space between the two fuel tanks 7 while being protected by the fuel tank 7. In addition, the nozzle attachment portion 42 is located between the upper end and the lower end of the fuel tank 7 in the height direction. In this embodiment, the nozzle attachment portion 42 is located at the same height as the tank axis. In other words, the nozzle attachment portion 42 is located at a position retracted to the inside in the up-down direction of the fuel tank 7. As a result, the nozzle attachment portion 42 is located at a lower position than the fuel tank 7, so there is no need to lift the refueling nozzle 100 high when refueling, making it easy to perform the refueling operation.

[0047] Moreover, the nozzle attachment part 42 is disposed so that the surface that connects with the refueling nozzle 100 faces in a direction perpendicular to the vertical direction, specifically, rearward. This allows the refueling nozzle 100 to be attached in a horizontal orientation during refueling, which tends to make the work easier than when the nozzle is attached to the nozzle attachment part 42 by moving it from above to below. In this way, the position and orientation of the nozzle attachment part 42 described above are independent characteristics and have independent effects. Moreover, the position or orientation of the nozzle attachment part 42 is an example and can be changed. In this embodiment, the horizontal orientation includes a range of inclination of plus or minus 30 degrees with respect to the horizontal plane.

[0048] Furthermore, compared to a case where the insertion direction is arranged in the left-right direction, force is less likely to be applied to the vehicle body 2 about the front-to-rear axis when attaching or detaching the refueling nozzle 100, and it is easier to maintain an independent state when the vehicle body is tilted with the side stand on. Also, by locating the nozzle attachment part 42 above the rear wheel 4, it is easier to prevent the nozzle from coming into contact with the rear wheel 4 or safety parts provided near the rear wheel 4 when connecting the nozzle to the nozzle attachment part 42. Possible safety parts include a license plate, a plate light, a brake lamp, a turn signal, and a reflector.

[0049] The manifold 43 has a function of collecting the fuel pipes 41. The pressure reducing valve 44 is a pressure reducing valve that reduces the pressure of the fuel. The manifold 43 and the pressure reducing valve 44 are located between the two fuel tanks 7 in the vehicle width direction. Also, the manifold 43 and the pressure reducing valve 44 are located between the front end and the rear end of the fuel tank 7 in the vehicle length direction. This allows components related to the fuel tank 7 to be arranged by utilizing the space between the two fuel tanks 7. Also, the space between the two fuel tanks 7 may further include the fuel pipe 41, a sensor that measures the pressure in the fuel pipe 41, a regulator that adjusts the pressure, an opening / closing valve that can switch between shutting off and opening the fuel, and a relief valve that releases the fuel to the outside of the fuel pipe 41 in the event of an abnormality. Among these, the regulator, the opening / closing valve, and the relief valve correspond to a controller that controls the fuel supplied from the fuel tank 7 to the engine 8. The fuel tank 7 and related components related to the fuel tank 7 are supported by a tank frame 30, which will be described later. The related components and a part of the fuel pipe 41 may be located above the upper end of the tank main body 51. The tank frame 30 is provided with a fuel pipe 41 downstream of the pressure reducing valve, and a connection portion to which a flexible hose 41a (described later) is connected. By providing the flexible hose 41a downstream of the pressure reducing valve, the required pressure resistance can be reduced.

[0050] When fuel is used, the fuel stored in the fuel tank 7 is discharged from the connection part 52 at the rear end of the fuel tank 7, passes through the fuel pipe 41 and manifold 43 arranged between the two fuel tanks 7, passes through the pressure reducing valve 44, and is then supplied to the engine 8 via the flexible hose 41a shown in FIG. 1. The flexible hose 41a is made of, for example, a nonmetallic material and has flexibility. By using the flexible hose 41a, even if the positional relationship between the fuel tank 7 and the engine 8 changes due to vibration or the like, the flexible hose 41a can absorb the vibration due to deformation (flexion) of the flexible hose 41a, and prevent the vibration from being transmitted to related parts such as the fuel pipe 41, sensor, regulator, on-off valve, and relief valve via the supply path.

[0051] As shown in FIG. 4, the tank frame 30 is a frame that covers the periphery of the fuel tank 7. Since the tank frame 30 is a frame, it is a strength member and an elongated member. The cross section of the tank frame 30 is, for example, a hollow or solid cylinder, or a hollow or solid rectangle. The tank frame 30 may be made of a metal material such as an aluminum alloy or steel. The tank frame 30 protects the fuel tank 7 and also functions as a mounting destination for the fuel tank 7. The tank frame 30 is connected to the vehicle body frame 2a. As a result, the fuel tank 7 is mounted to the vehicle body frame 2a via the tank frame 30. That is, the tank frame 30 functions as a support structure for supporting the fuel tank 7 on the vehicle body frame 2a.

[0052] As shown in FIG. 4, the tank frame 30 includes a front tank frame 31, a rear tank frame 32, a side tank frame 33, a lower tank frame 34, and an inner frame 35.

[0053] The front tank frame 31 covers the front surface of the fuel tank 7. Incidentally, covering the front surface is not limited to a configuration in which the entire front surface is covered, but also includes a configuration in which a portion of the front surface is covered. In other words, the front tank frame 31 overlaps at least a portion of the fuel tank 7 when viewed from the front. To explain further, it is not necessary for the entire front tank frame 31 to cover the front surface of the fuel tank 7, and a portion of the front tank frame 31 may cover the front surface of the fuel tank 7. The same interpretation is also applied to cases in which a portion other than the front surface is covered, and cases in which a frame other than the front tank frame 31 is used for covering. Incidentally, the front tank frame 31 can be omitted.

[0054] Specifically, the front tank frame 31 is disposed forwardly with a gap therebetween with respect to the front surface of the fuel tank 7. In a front view of the vehicle body, the front tank frame 31 has an area that overlaps at least a portion of the front surface of the fuel tank 7. The front tank frame 31 also includes two first frame parts that are disposed with a gap therebetween in the vertical direction. The tank axis position is located at a height between the two first frame parts in the vertical direction. In other words, the two first frame parts are provided so as to sandwich the tank axis position in the vertical direction. The two first frame parts may be connected by a second frame part that extends vertically. The front tank frame 31 has a connection part 31a that is detachably connected to the vehicle body frame 2a. The front tank frame 31 and the vehicle body frame 2a may be inseparably connected by welding or the like.

[0055] The rear tank frame 32 covers the rear surface of the fuel tank 7. The rear tank frame 32 particularly includes a portion that covers the connection portion 52 of the fuel tank 7 or its surroundings. In addition, the rear tank frame 32 covering the connection portion 52 means that at least a portion of the rear tank frame 32 covers the connection portion 52. As shown in FIG. 4, the rear tank frame 32 includes a U-shaped frame. The U-shaped frame covers the connection portion 52 of the fuel tank 7 or its surroundings.

[0056] Specifically, the rear tank frame 32 is disposed rearwardly with a gap therebetween with respect to the rear surface of the fuel tank 7. The rear tank frame 32 may be disposed offset in the vertical or horizontal direction from the connection portion 52 as long as it can protect the connection portion 52 and the rear surface of the tank body. That is, the connection portion 52 may cover the connection portion 52 or the periphery of the connection portion 52. The rear tank frame 32 of this embodiment has a portion formed in a frame shape that covers the outer edge portion of the connection portion 52 when viewed from the rear of the vehicle body. Also, when viewed from the rear of the vehicle body, the rear tank frame 32 includes an area that overlaps at least a part of the rear surface of the fuel tank 7. The rear tank frame 32 has a larger area that overlaps with the fuel tank 7 than the front tank frame 31. In other words, the rear tank frame 32 has a structure that provides a larger protection area for the fuel tank 7 than the front tank frame 31.

[0057] The rear tank frame 32 has a portion extending in a direction connecting both ends of the fuel tank 7 in the vehicle width direction, and a portion extending in a direction connecting both ends of the fuel tank 7 in the vertical direction. The rear tank frame 32 is also connected to the side tank frames 33 and each of the rear tank frames 32. This protects the connection portion 52 of the fuel tank 7, as well as both ends of the tank body 51 in the vehicle width direction and both ends in the vertical direction.

[0058] As shown in FIG. 3, the rear tank frame 32 includes two first frame portions arranged vertically with a gap therebetween, and one second frame portion extending in the vertical direction. The second frame portion connects the two first frame portions together. Furthermore, the second frame portion connects the first frame portion arranged below to the lower tank frame 34. In addition, in rear view, the center of the nozzle attachment portion 42, i.e., the tank axis, is located between the two first frame portions of the rear tank frame 32. This allows the nozzle attachment portion 42 to be appropriately protected. The rear tank frame 32 can be omitted.

[0059] The rear tank frame 32 that protects the rear surface of the fuel tank 7 arranged on one side in the vehicle width direction is connected to the rear tank frame 32 that protects the rear surface of the fuel tank 7 arranged on the other side in the vehicle width direction. In other words, the first frame parts of the rear tank frames 32 arranged on the left and right are connected to each other. Hereinafter, the part that connects the left and right rear tank frames 32 is referred to as the connecting part 32a. The connecting parts 32a are arranged in two vertically spaced relation to each other, similar to the first frame parts of the rear tank frames 32. At least one of the connecting parts 32a, the upper connecting part 32a in this embodiment, is located rearward of the nozzle mounting part 42. This makes it difficult for the connecting part 32a and the nozzle to interfere with each other when the nozzle is brought close to the nozzle mounting part 42 from above. In addition, at least one of the connecting parts 32a, the upper connecting part 32a in this embodiment, includes a part that bends forward. By having this bent part, the connecting part 32a has a part adjacent to the connecting part 52, so that the protective effect of the connecting part 52 can be enhanced.

[0060] The side tank frame 33 extends along a direction parallel to the tank axis. In this specification, the term "parallel" includes not only the case where the two directions are completely parallel, but also the case where they are approximately parallel (for example, the difference in angle is within 10 degrees). The side tank frame 33 covers the outer surface of the fuel tank 7 in the vehicle width direction. All parts of the side tank frame 33 do not need to cover the outer surface of the fuel tank 7 in the vehicle width direction, and it is sufficient that at least a part of the side tank frame 33 covers the outer surface of the fuel tank 7 in the vehicle width direction. In addition, the outer surface in the vehicle width direction is, for example, a surface that can be seen in a side view. In addition, the side tank frame 33 is disposed next to the fuel tank 7 at a distance in the vehicle width direction and on the outer side in the vehicle width direction. As described above, the fuel tank 7 includes a portion located outside the body frame 2a or the seat 14 in the vehicle width direction. Accordingly, the side tank frame 33 is similarly positioned outboard of the body frame 2a or the seat 14, and further includes a portion positioned outboard of the fuel tank 7. As a result, the side tank frame 33 receives the impact of hitting the ground in the event of a fall, thereby protecting the fuel tank 7, etc.

[0061] The side tank frame 33 includes two first frame portions arranged vertically with a gap between them. The upper first frame portion is arranged at a position higher than the tank axis. The lower first frame portion is arranged at a position lower than the tank axis. The side tank frame 33 further includes a second frame portion connecting the two first frame portions. A plurality of second frame portions are arranged at intervals in the front-rear direction. In this embodiment, the second frame portions are respectively arranged near the front end of the tank main body 51 and near the rear end of the tank main body 51. In addition, in the front-rear direction, the second frame portion of the side tank frame 33 is arranged at a position different from a band 45 described later.

[0062] As described above, the front tank frame 31, the rear tank frame 32, and the side tank frame 33 each include a first frame portion that is arranged vertically with a gap between them. The upper first frame portion of the side tank frame 33 is connected to the upper first frame portion of the front tank frame 31, and is also connected to the upper first frame portion of the rear tank frame 32. Similarly, the lower first frame portion of the side tank frame 33 is connected to the lower first frame portion of the front tank frame 31, and is also connected to the lower first frame portion of the rear tank frame 32.

[0063] The tank axis position is located at a height between the upper first frame portion of the two first frame portions in the vertical direction. In other words, the two first frame portions are provided to sandwich the tank axis position in the vertical direction. The two first frame portions may be connected by a second frame portion extending vertically.

[0064] The inner frame 35 covers the inner surface of the fuel tank 7 in the vehicle width direction. The inner frame 35 is disposed between the left and right fuel tanks 7. The inner frame 35 supports parts related to the fuel tank 7, such as the fuel pipe 41, pressure reducing valve 44, manifold 43, etc. A band 45 is wrapped around the outer circumferential surface of the fuel tank 7, and the band 45 is fixed to the inner frame 35. The inner frames 35 disposed on the left and right are connected by a connecting member. Multiple connecting members are disposed in the front-rear direction. The connecting member is positioned adjacent to the position of the band 45 in the front-rear direction.

[0065] The tank frame 30 includes a front tank frame 31, a rear tank frame 32, and a side tank frame 33. In this embodiment, the tank frame 30, the front tank frame 31, and the rear tank frame 32 are connected to each other, so that the tank frame 30 includes a loop-shaped portion. This allows the periphery of the tank frame 30 around the vertical axis to be protected by the tank frame 30. Specifically, in the plan view of FIG. 2, the entire periphery of the fuel tank 7 is covered by the tank frame 30.

[0066] The lower tank frame 34 covers the underside of the fuel tank 7. The lower tank frame 34 is connected to the side tank frame 33. The lower tank frame 34 has a receiving portion that receives the fuel tank 7 from below. A plurality of receiving portions are arranged spaced apart in the front-rear direction. Furthermore, a vibration-proof member may be provided on the portion of the receiving portion that faces the fuel tank 7. In this way, the fuel tank 7 can be supported by the lower tank frame 34 in a vibration-proof manner.

[0067] The lower tank frame 34 is disposed lower than the side tank frames 33, and includes a frame-like portion configured as a ground contact portion that supports the tank frame 30 when the tank frame 30 is removed from the vehicle body. The lower tank frame 34 is disposed below and spaced apart from the fuel tank 7. The lower tank frame 34 is connected to the rear tank frame 32 from below. The lower tank frames 34 that are disposed side by side in the vehicle width direction are connected to each other. At this time, in order to secure a space for arranging the rear wheels 4, the left and right lower tank frames 34 are connected using a member that includes a portion extending upward from the lower tank frames 34.

[0068] It should be noted that the fuel tank 7 is not limited to being attached to the lower tank frame 34 and the inner frame 35, and may be attached to, for example, the side tank frame 33 and supported by the side tank frame 33. In other words, the fuel tank 7 may be attached directly or indirectly to the tank frame 30 and supported directly or indirectly by the tank frame 30. Also, a damper 46 is attached to the band 45, and the damper 46 can also provide a vibration-proofing effect. If the fuel tank 7 is supported by a frame other than the lower tank frame 34, the lower tank frame 34 can be omitted.

[0069] 5, the tank frame 30 is connected to the body frame 2a by welding or via fastening members. As a result, the tank frame 30 and the body frame 2a are integrated. Specifically, a longitudinal end of a front tank frame 31 of the tank frame 30 is connected to a longitudinal end of the body frame 2a. Note that the tank frame 30 may be configured to be removable from the body frame 2a together with the fuel tank 7 by being connected with the fastening members.

[0070] As a result, the tank frame 30 can support the fuel tank 7 while firmly protecting the fuel tank 7.

[0071] Next, a saddle riding type vehicle 1 according to a second embodiment will be described with reference to Fig. 6 to Fig. 8. Fig. 6 and Fig. 7 are a side view and a rear view, respectively, of the saddle riding type vehicle 1 according to the second embodiment. Fig. 8 is a perspective view of a frame configuration and a fuel tank 7 according to the second embodiment. Fig. 6 to Fig. 8 show the configuration in a state in which the fuel pipe 41, the manifold 43, and the pressure reducing valve 44 are omitted.

[0072] 6, the layout of the fuel tank 7 and the tank frame 30 in the second embodiment is substantially the same as that in the first embodiment. The first and second embodiments are different from each other in the connection structure between the body frame 2a and the tank frame 30 and the vibration isolation method.

[0073] Specifically, as shown in FIG. 8, in the second embodiment, the vehicle body frame 2a has a first connecting portion 2c, and the tank frame 30 has a second connecting portion 36. The first connecting portion 2c and the second connecting portion 36 are each a portion including a plurality of frames or a plate-shaped frame. As shown in FIG. 7, the vehicle body frame 2a and the second connecting portion 36 are positioned to face each other, and a vibration-proof plate 37 is disposed therebetween. The vibration-proof plate 37 is a plate-shaped member made of an elastic body, or a plate-shaped member to which a vibration isolator such as a spring or rubber is attached. The first connecting portion 2c and the second connecting portion 36 are connected via the vibration-proof plate 37.

[0074] This allows the tank frame 30 and the fuel tank 7 attached thereto to be vibration-proofed together. Also, if the vehicle body frame 2a is of a size that allows the second connecting portion 36 to be connected, there is almost no need to change the frame structure of the existing saddle-ride type vehicle 1. Therefore, the amount of work required for design changes when applying the fuel tank 7 to an existing saddle-ride type vehicle 1 can be reduced.

[0075] The fuel tank 7 of the second embodiment can be disposed below the rear frame, which is the rear portion of the body frame 2a. In particular, the tank axis can be disposed below the upper surface of the rear frame. To achieve this, a tank support portion that supports the fuel tank 7 is disposed below the second connecting portion 36 that is connected to the rear frame. Also, by connecting the first connecting portion 2c and the second connecting portion 36 at multiple locations spaced apart in the front-rear direction from the vertical center of the fuel tank 7, the fuel tank 7 can be supported at a position close to the center of the fuel tank 7, making it easier to achieve stable holding.

[0076] The side tank frame 33 of the second embodiment has one main frame portion and a U-shaped sub-frame portion connected to the main frame portion. Even with such a simple structure, it is easy to protect the outer side portion of the fuel tank 7 in the vehicle width direction.

[0077] Next, the specific configurations disclosed in the above-mentioned first and second embodiments will be described.

[0078] In the saddle riding type vehicle 1 of the above embodiment, the nozzle mounting portion 42 is located rearward of the rear end of the rear wheel 4. Furthermore, the connection portion 52 (fuel outlet) is disposed rearward of the rear end of the rear wheel 4. In other words, the fuel tank 7 is located rearward of the rear end of the rear wheel 4. Furthermore, in the saddle riding type vehicle 1, the tank frame 30 has rear end protection portions that protect the nozzle mounting portion 42, the rear end of the fuel tank 7, and the connection portion 52 (fuel outlet). As a result, even if another vehicle or an obstacle approaches the saddle riding type vehicle 1 from behind, it will come into contact with the tank frame 30 before the fuel tank 7 and the nozzle mounting portion 42, and the fuel tank 7 and the nozzle mounting portion 42 can be protected.

[0079] In the saddle-ride type vehicle 1 of the above embodiment, the tank frame 30 includes a lower end protection portion disposed below the fuel tank 7. The lower end protection portion of the tank frame 30 extends in the longitudinal direction along the tank axis. This allows the fuel tank 7 to be supported by the tank frame 30 even when the fuel tank 7 is removed from the vehicle body 2 together with the tank frame 30. This makes it possible to prevent damage to the fuel tank 7.

[0080] Although the preferred embodiment of the present application has been described above, the above configuration can be modified, for example, as follows.

[0081] <Vehicle> The saddle riding type vehicle 1 may have a sports type structure in which steps 15 serving as footrests are disposed on both the left and right sides of the seat 14 as in this embodiment. Alternatively, the saddle riding type vehicle may have a scooter type structure in which a floor serving as a footrest area is disposed in front of and below the seat. Existing saddle riding type vehicles can be applied to the structure other than the fuel tank 7. For example, the presence or absence of a cowl and the body frame structure can be applied to existing saddle riding type vehicles.

[0082] <Tank frame> The tank frame 30 may be configured such that a support portion that supports the fuel tank 7 on the vehicle body 2 and a cover portion that covers the outer surface of the fuel tank 7 in the vehicle width direction are separately configured. For example, the support portion and the cover portion may be provided detachably, or may be formed of different materials. The cover portion of the tank frame 30 that covers the outer surface of the fuel tank 7 in the vehicle width direction may be configured to partially cover a part of the outer surface of the fuel tank 7 in the vehicle width direction. For example, the cover portion may have a plurality of parts spaced apart in the front-rear direction, such as a frame shape or a protrusion shape, to protect the fuel tank 7. In this way, the tank frame 30 may be configured to cover only a part of the outer surface of the fuel tank 7 in the vehicle width direction and an area extending in the longitudinal direction.

[0083] In this embodiment, the cover portion is disposed at a position facing the outermost portion of the fuel tank 7 in the vehicle width direction. The cover portion is not limited to this, and may be formed so as to be arranged vertically and extend in the front-rear direction. By providing a plurality of cover portions vertically in this manner, the protection performance of the cover portion for the fuel tank 7 can be further improved.

[0084] In this embodiment, a plurality of frame portions are connected to form a frame shape, but the present invention is not limited to this and may be formed into a cage shape, a lattice shape, or a truss structure.

[0085] <Tank> As long as the rear end of the fuel tank 7 is rearward of the rear end of the seat 14, the present technology may be applied to a layout in which the front end of the fuel tank 7 is located forward of the front end of the seat 14. In the present embodiment, two fuel tanks 7 are arranged side by side in the left-right direction, but the present invention is not limited to this, and three or more fuel tanks may be arranged side by side in the left-right direction. The fuel tanks 7 may also be arranged side by side in the up-down direction. For example, one fuel tank may be arranged above two fuel tanks 7 arranged side by side. The upper fuel tank 7 may be arranged so that its axis is along the left-right center of the fuel tanks 7 arranged side by side, in other words, between the two fuel tanks 7.

[0086] In this embodiment, the axis of the fuel tank 7 extends parallel to the front-rear direction, but this is not limited thereto. In other words, if the axis of the fuel tank 7 has a component extending in the front-rear direction, the fuel tank 7 is defined as extending along the front-rear direction. In other words, the axis of the fuel tank 7 may be inclined relative to the vehicle body 2 so as to advance in at least one of the left-right direction and the up-down direction as it advances rearward. In addition, if the size of the fuel tank 7 is small, the axis of the fuel tank 7 may extend in the up-down direction or the left-right direction. The shape of the fuel tank 7 is also not limited, and the fuel tank 7 may be formed into a shape extending in the axial direction, or into another shape such as a sphere.

[0087] Connection part 52 may be provided at the front end of fuel tank 7. When connection part 52 is provided at the front end of fuel tank 7, tank body 51 can protect connection part 52, and it is easier to prevent obstacles and the like from coming into contact with connection part 52, compared to when connection part 52 is provided at the rear end of fuel tank 7.

[0088] Similarly, nozzle mounting portion 42 may be disposed at the front end of fuel tank 7. Also, nozzle mounting portion 42 may be disposed at the middle in the front-rear direction of fuel tank 7. When nozzle mounting portion 42 is provided at the front end or the middle in the front-rear direction of fuel tank 7, tank body 51 can protect connection portion 52 and it is easier to prevent obstacles and the like from coming into contact with nozzle mounting portion 42 compared to when nozzle mounting portion 42 is provided at the rear end of fuel tank 7.

[0089] At least one of the related parts of the fuel tank 7, such as the fuel pipe 41, the pressure reducing valve 44, and the manifold 43, may be disposed above the inner frame 35, or may be disposed between the inner frames 35 arranged side by side.

[0090] (Feature 1) The saddle-ride type vehicle 1 of this embodiment includes a body frame 2a, a seat 14, an engine 8, and a tank frame 30. A rider sits on the seat 14. Fuel is stored in the fuel tank 7 at a pressure higher than atmospheric pressure. The engine 8 generates driving force using the fuel stored in the fuel tank 7. The tank frame 30 supports the fuel tank 7 and is connected to the body frame 2a. The rear end of the fuel tank 7 is located rearward of the rear end of the seat 14. The tank frame 30 covers the outer surface of the fuel tank 7 in the vehicle width direction.

[0091] As a result, the fuel tank 7 is supported by the tank frame 30 and the outer surface in the vehicle width direction is protected. Therefore, even if the vehicle rolls over and receives a strong impact on the side of the vehicle, the fuel tank 7 is less likely to be damaged.

[0092] (Feature 2) In the saddle riding vehicle 1 of the present embodiment, the fuel tank 7 is disposed so that its longitudinal direction is along the front-rear direction. The tank frame 30 is disposed so as to be along the longitudinal direction of the fuel tank 7 in an area on the outer side of the fuel tank 7 in the vehicle width direction.

[0093] Since the tank frame 30 extends in the front-rear direction along the fuel tank 7, a wider area is protected for the fuel tank 7. As a result, the fuel tank 7 is even less susceptible to damage.

[0094] (Feature 3) In the saddle riding type vehicle 1 of this embodiment, the tank frame 30 further covers the rear surface of the fuel tank 7 .

[0095] This provides additional protection to the rear surface of the fuel tank 7.

[0096] (Feature 4) The saddle-type vehicle 1 of this embodiment includes a nozzle attachment portion 42 to which the refueling nozzle 100 is attached during refueling. The nozzle attachment portion 42 is provided at the rear of the vehicle.

[0097] Providing the nozzle mounting portion 42 at the rear of the vehicle allows the nozzle mounting portion 42 to be located away from the driver sitting in the seat 14, thereby preventing interference between the driver and the nozzle mounting portion 42.

[0098] (Feature 5) In the saddle riding type vehicle 1 of this embodiment, a connection portion 52 which is an outlet for fuel supplied from the fuel tank 7 to the engine 8 is provided at the rear of the fuel tank 7 .

[0099] By providing the connection part 52 at the rear of the vehicle, the connection part 52 can be located away from the driver sitting in the seat, and interference between the driver and the connection part 52 can be prevented.

[0100] Nozzle mounting portion 42 is provided at the rear of the vehicle, and connection portion 52 is provided at the rear of the fuel tank 7. In other words, nozzle mounting portion 42 and connection portion 52 are disposed adjacent to each other with respect to the center of the tank. This brings nozzle mounting portion 42 and connection portion 52 closer to each other, allowing the length of fuel pipe 41 to be shortened. Also, connection portion 52 can be protected.

[0101] (Feature 6) In the saddle riding type vehicle 1 of this embodiment, the nozzle attachment portion 42 is disposed below the upper end of the fuel tank 7 .

[0102] Since the nozzle attachment portion 42 is disposed at a position that is not too high, the operation of refilling fuel is easily facilitated.

[0103] (Feature 7) In the saddle riding vehicle 1 of this embodiment, the tank frame 30 is disposed in a loop shape so as to go around the fuel tank 7 around the vertical axis and cover the entire fuel tank 7 in a plan view of the vehicle.

[0104] This ensures that the area around the fuel tank 7 is protected appropriately.

[0105] (Feature 8) In the saddle riding vehicle 1 of this embodiment, the fuel tank 7 is supported in a vibration-proof manner on the body frame 2a. At least a part of the fuel pipe 41 that supplies fuel from the fuel tank 7 to the engine 8 is a flexible hose 41a.

[0106] This makes it possible to prevent engine vibrations and shocks from the road surface from being transmitted to the fuel tank 7 via the vehicle body, and absorb the vibrations received by the fuel tank 7. Furthermore, by using flexible hose 41a for part of the fuel pipe connecting the fuel tank 7 and the engine 8, it is possible to tolerate relative displacement between the engine 8 and the fuel tank 7. This makes it possible to suppress the load on the fuel pipe 41 caused by the relative displacement between the fuel tank 7 and the engine 8, which is caused by vibration absorption.

[0107] (Feature 9) In the saddle riding type vehicle 1 of this embodiment, the fuel tank 7 is attached to and supported by the tank frame 30. The tank frame 30 is connected to the body frame 2a.

[0108] The fuel tank 7 and the fuel pipe 41 are attached to the tank frame 30 to form a single unit. Therefore, the fuel tank 7 and the fuel pipe 41 can be assembled to the tank frame 30 as a sub-unit. This makes it easier to check the operation of the fuel piping system before attaching it to the vehicle body 2, improving workability. Furthermore, for example, when this type of tank frame 30 is applied to an existing saddle-type vehicle 1, it tends to eliminate the need for a significant design change to the vehicle body frame 2a.

[0109] (Feature 10) The saddle-ride type vehicle 1 of this embodiment includes a body frame 2a, a fuel tank 7, an engine 8, and a tank frame 30. The fuel tank 7 protrudes outward in the vehicle width direction beyond the body frame 2a, and fuel is stored in the fuel tank 7 at a pressure higher than atmospheric pressure. The engine 8 generates driving force using fuel stored in the fuel tank 7. The tank frame 30 supports the fuel tank 7 and is connected to the body frame 2a. At least a portion of the fuel tank 7 protrudes outward in the vehicle width direction beyond the body frame 2a. The tank frame 30 covers the outer surface of the fuel tank 7 in the vehicle width direction.

[0110] As a result, the fuel tank 7 is supported by the tank frame 30 and the surface on the outer side in the vehicle width direction is protected. Therefore, even if the vehicle falls over and receives a strong impact on the side of the vehicle, the fuel tank 7 is unlikely to be damaged. In addition, since the fuel tank 7 protrudes outward in the vehicle width direction beyond the body frame 2a, the capacity of the fuel tank 7 tends to be large.

[0111] (Feature 11) The tank unit of this embodiment includes a fuel tank 7, a controller, and a tank frame 30. Fuel is stored in the fuel tank 7 at a pressure higher than atmospheric pressure. The controller is connected to the fuel tank 7 (e.g., via a fuel pipe 41) and controls the fuel supplied from the fuel tank 7 to the engine 8. As described above, the controller is, for example, a regulator, an on-off valve, or a relief valve. The tank frame 30 supports the controller and the fuel tank 7, and includes a second connecting portion 36 that is connected to the vehicle body 2, and covers the outer surface of the fuel tank 7.

[0112] This allows the fuel tank 7 and the controller to be assembled as a unit into the tank frame 30. As a result, after the fuel tank 7 and the controller are assembled into the tank frame 30, they can be attached together to the vehicle body 2. This improves the workability of assembling the fuel tank 7 and the controller into the tank frame 30, and also improves the workability of attaching the tank frame 30 to the vehicle body 2.

[0113] The above-mentioned features 1 to 11 can be appropriately combined as long as no contradiction occurs. For example, feature N (N=1, 2, . . . , 11) can be appropriately combined with at least one of features 1 to N-1.

[0114] <Other features> The saddle riding type vehicle 1 of the above embodiment (for example, the saddle riding type vehicle 1 of feature 1) has the following multiple features.

[0115] In the saddle riding type vehicle 1, two fuel tanks 7 are arranged side by side in the vehicle width direction. The tank axes of the two fuel tanks 7 are located outboard in the vehicle width direction of the rear wheels 4. In addition, the rear wheels 4 and the tank frame 30 partially overlap in the height direction. This allows the fuel tank 7 to be disposed lower than in the case where one fuel tank 7 is disposed directly above the rear wheels 4.

[0116] In the saddle riding type vehicle 1, two fuel tanks 7 are arranged side by side in the vehicle width direction. The tank frame 30 includes a first portion that covers the outer surface, front surface, and rear surface of the first fuel tank 7 in the vehicle width direction, and a second portion that covers the outer surface, front surface, and rear surface of the second fuel tank 7 in the vehicle width direction. The first portion and the second portion of the tank frame 30 are connected to each other. This makes it possible to increase the rigidity and improve the handleability of the tank frame 30.

[0117] In the saddle-type vehicle 1, the tank frame 30 includes a plurality of first frame portions arranged in parallel with a space therebetween. This allows the fuel tank 7 to be protected by a surface rather than a line, thereby improving the protective performance.

[0118] In the saddle-ride type vehicle 1, the tank frame 30 includes a front tank frame 31, a rear tank frame 32, and a side tank frame 33. The front tank frame 31, the rear tank frame 32, and the side tank frame 33 each include a plurality of first frame portions arranged in parallel at intervals. The plurality of first frame portions of the side tank frame 33 are connected to the plurality of first frames of the front tank frame 31 and the rear tank frame 32, respectively. This allows the periphery of the fuel tank 7 to be protected by a surface rather than a line, thereby improving protective performance.

[0119] In the saddle-type vehicle 1, a connection part 52 (fuel outlet) that supplies fuel from the fuel tank 7 to the engine 8 is provided on the fuel tank 7. The tank frame 30 has a portion that covers the connection part 52 or the periphery of the connection part 52. This allows the connection portion 52 to be protected by the tank frame 30.

[0120] The saddle riding type vehicle 1 includes a nozzle attachment portion 42 to which a fuel refilling nozzle is attached during refueling. The tank frame 30 has a portion that covers the nozzle attachment portion 42 or the periphery of the nozzle attachment portion 42. This allows the nozzle attachment portion 42 to be protected by the tank frame 30.

[0121] In the saddle riding type vehicle 1, two fuel tanks 7 are arranged side by side in the vehicle width direction. Two side tank frames 33 are arranged side by side in the vehicle width direction. A connection portion 52 (fuel outlet) that supplies fuel from the fuel tank 7 to the engine 8 is provided at the rear of the fuel tank 7. The fuel from the fuel tank 7 passes forward through the space between the two fuel tanks 7 and is supplied to the engine 8. This allows the space of the two fuel tanks 7 to be used effectively.

[0122] In the saddle riding type vehicle 1, the front end of the tank frame 30 is connected to the rear end of the body frame 2a, so that the body frame 2a and the tank frame 30 are integrated together. This makes it difficult for the body frame 2a and the tank frame 30 to overlap in the front-rear direction, simplifying the frame structure.

[0123] In the saddle-type vehicle 1, the fuel tank 7 is attached to and supported by a tank frame 30. The tank frame 30 is connected to the vehicle body frame 2a. The vehicle body frame 2a and the tank frame 30 are connected via a single vibration-isolating member (vibration-isolating plate 37). This allows the tank frame 30 and the fuel tank 7 to be vibration-proofed together. [Explanation of symbols]

[0124] 1 Saddle-type vehicle 2. Body 2a Body frame 7. Fuel Tank 8 Engine (power source) 14 sheets 30 Tank Frame

Claims

1. The vehicle frame, A seat on which the driver sits; A fuel tank in which fuel is stored under a pressure higher than atmospheric pressure; a power source that generates a driving force using fuel stored in the fuel tank; a tank frame supporting the fuel tank and connected to the vehicle body frame; Equipped with a rear end of the fuel tank is located behind a rear end of the seat, The tank frame covers an outer surface of the fuel tank in a vehicle width direction.

2. 2. The saddle-type vehicle according to claim 1, The fuel tank is disposed so that its longitudinal direction is along the front-rear direction, The tank frame is disposed along a longitudinal direction of the fuel tank in an outer region of the fuel tank in a vehicle width direction.

3. 3. The saddle-type vehicle according to claim 1 or 2, The tank frame further covers a rear surface of the fuel tank.

4. 3. The saddle-type vehicle according to claim 1 or 2, A nozzle attachment portion to which a refueling nozzle is attached during refueling is provided, The nozzle attachment portion is provided at a rear portion of the vehicle.

5. 3. The saddle-type vehicle according to claim 1 or 2, A saddle-type vehicle, wherein a connection portion which is an outlet for fuel supplied from the fuel tank to the power source is provided at a rear portion of the fuel tank.

6. 5. The saddle-type vehicle according to claim 4, The nozzle attachment portion is disposed below an upper end of the fuel tank.

7. 3. The saddle-type vehicle according to claim 1 or 2, In a plan view of the vehicle, the tank frame is arranged in a loop shape so as to go around the fuel tank about a vertical axis and cover the entire fuel tank.

8. 3. The saddle-type vehicle according to claim 1 or 2, the fuel tank is supported on the vehicle body frame in a vibration-proof manner, At least a portion of a fuel pipe that supplies fuel from the fuel tank to the power source is a flexible hose.

9. 3. The saddle-type vehicle according to claim 1 or 2, The fuel tank is attached to and supported by the tank frame, A saddle-type vehicle, wherein the tank frame is connected to the body frame.

10. The vehicle frame, a fuel tank that protrudes outward in a vehicle width direction from the vehicle body frame and stores fuel under a pressure higher than atmospheric pressure; a power source that generates a driving force using fuel stored in the fuel tank; a tank frame supporting the fuel tank and connected to the vehicle body frame; Equipped with At least a portion of the fuel tank protrudes outward in a vehicle width direction beyond the body frame, The tank frame covers an outer surface of the fuel tank in a vehicle width direction.

11. A fuel tank in which fuel is stored under a pressure higher than atmospheric pressure; a controller connected to the fuel tank and configured to control fuel supplied from the fuel tank to the power source; A tank unit having a tank frame that supports the controller and a fuel tank, has a connecting portion that is connected to a vehicle body, and covers an outer surface of the fuel tank.

Images