Vehicle and connection method

Abstract

To provide a vehicle that prevents a fuel tank from coming off a vehicle body, while preventing complication of a frame structure.SOLUTION: A saddle-riding type vehicle comprises a vehicle body 2, a fuel tank 7, and a flexible member 41. Fuel is stored in the fuel tank 7 that is mounted in the vehicle body 2. The flexible member 41, which is a slender member with flexibility, connects the vehicle body 2 and the fuel tank 7 together.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 3

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] This application relates primarily to vehicles equipped with fuel tanks. [Background technology]

[0002] The fuel cell motorcycle in Patent Document 1 includes a body frame and a fuel tank. The fuel tank is fixed to the body frame with a band. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Patent No. 4855764 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] In the fuel tank fixing structure shown in Patent Document 1, there is a risk that the fuel tank will come off the vehicle body if it receives an impact during a collision from a direction where the fixing strength is low. Also, in order to prevent the fuel tank from coming off the vehicle body even when it receives an impact from a collision from all directions, the frame structure becomes complicated. Note that this problem is not limited to vehicles, but is a common problem for all vehicles equipped with fuel tanks.

[0005] The present application has been made in consideration of the above circumstances, and its main object is to provide a vehicle that prevents a fuel tank from becoming detached from the vehicle body while preventing the frame structure from becoming complicated. [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 vehicle having the following configuration. That is, the vehicle includes a vehicle body, a fuel tank, and a flexible member. The fuel tank is attached to the vehicle body and stores fuel. The flexible member is a flexible, elongated member that connects the vehicle body and the fuel tank.

[0008] According to a second aspect of the present application, there is provided a connection method for connecting a fuel tank in which fuel is stored to a vehicle body, the connection method comprising the steps of attaching a flexible member, which is an elongated member having flexibility, to the vehicle body, and attaching the flexible member to the fuel tank. Effect of the Invention

[0009] According to the present application, it is possible to realize a configuration that prevents the fuel tank from becoming detached from the vehicle body while preventing the frame structure from becoming complicated. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0010] [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] 1 is a side view showing a mounting structure for a fuel tank of a saddle-type vehicle according to a first embodiment; [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is a side view showing the state when the fuel tank is detached from the tank frame. [Diagram 5] FIG. 11 is a side view showing a mounting structure for a fuel tank of a saddle-type vehicle according to a second embodiment. [Figure 6] FIG. 11 is a side view showing a mounting structure for a fuel tank of a saddle-type vehicle according to a third embodiment. [Figure 7] FIG. 13 is a side view showing a mounting structure for a fuel tank of a saddle-type vehicle according to a fourth embodiment. [Figure 8] FIG. 11 is a plan view of a saddle-type vehicle according to another embodiment in which a guard portion is provided on a tank frame. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0011] 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 and Fig. 2. Fig. 1 and Fig. 2 are a side view and a plan view of the saddle-ride type vehicle 1 of the first embodiment. Fig. 2 and subsequent drawings 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.

[0012] 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.

[0013] The saddle-type vehicle 1 is a riding vehicle. In particular, the saddle-type vehicle 1 is a type of vehicle in which a driver straddles the vehicle. The technology of the present embodiment is not limited to saddle-type vehicles, but can also be applied to vehicles in which the driver sits without straddling the seat. The saddle-type vehicle 1 may be a vehicle for transportation purposes, or may be a leisure vehicle for leisure purposes.

[0014] The vehicle body 2 includes a body frame 2a and a cowl 2b. The vehicle body 2 also includes an engine 8, which is a structure integrally attached to the body frame 2a. The body frame 2a is composed of elongated pipe-shaped or solid members, and is a member that forms the framework of the saddle-type vehicle 1. The cowl 2b is a resin member that covers the front and sides of the saddle-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.

[0015] 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.

[0016] 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.

[0017] 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 be a vehicle having two or more front wheels 3 and two or more rear wheels 4. The wheels are not essential components and may be omitted. For example, crawlers may be used instead of the wheels. The technology of the present embodiment may be applied to a four-wheeled vehicle such as a golf cart. When the technology of the present embodiment is applied to a vehicle such as a jet ski (personal watercraft), the wheels may be omitted.

[0018] 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, or 30 MPa or more. Therefore, the fuel tank 7 has a material and thickness that can withstand a high-pressure environment.

[0019] The fuel tank 7 is attached to the tank frame 30 and supported by the tank frame 30. 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 only an example, and the cross section may be a shape other than a circle, and may be a rectangular parallelepiped or spherical. The gaseous fuel stored in the fuel tank 7 is supplied to the engine 8 via a fuel pipe, which will be described later. The layout of the fuel tank 7 will be described later.

[0020] 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.

[0021] 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.

[0022] The fuel tank 7 may also be a container for storing liquid fuel such as gasoline or liquefied hydrogen. In this case, the liquid fuel is mixed with air in a vaporized or atomized 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 injecting liquid fuel at high pressure may also be used.

[0023] The drive source is not limited to the engine 8. For example, the drive source may be an electric motor, or a combination of an engine and an electric motor. If the saddle-type vehicle 1 is equipped with an electric motor, a power generating engine or a fuel cell may be used as a device for generating power for driving. The saddle-type vehicle 1 may also be configured to travel by transmitting the force of the driver pedaling to the drive wheels. In this case, the fuel tank 7 is used as fuel for generating power to be used by the on-board devices.

[0024] 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.

[0025] 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.

[0026] 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 controller, tools, etc. can be stored.

[0027] Furthermore, the fuel tank 7 is covered by a tank cover 18. This can 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. The tank cover 18 has a lower rigidity than the frame member, and is made of, for example, a resin material. In other words, the tank cover 18 does not have enough strength to support the fuel tank 7, and is made relatively lightweight.

[0028] Next, the structure of the fuel tank 7 and the mounting structure of the fuel tank 7 will be described with reference to FIGS.

[0029] 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.

[0030] 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. The fuel tank 7 is disposed so that the longitudinal direction (i.e., the axial direction) coincides with the front-rear direction.

[0031] 2 is connected to the connection part 52. The connection part 52 is provided at the rear end part of the tank body 51. The connection part 52 includes a fuel inlet / outlet and a valve. Therefore, the fuel replenished during refueling flows through the fuel pipe 61 to the connection part 52, and is supplied to the tank body 51 through the valve and the inlet / outlet of the connection part 52.

[0032] Furthermore, 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 61. Furthermore, the fuel pipe 61 includes 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 being provided at the rear end part of the tank body 51, and may be provided at the front end part of the tank body 51, for example.

[0033] 2 and 3 show the layout of the fuel tanks 7 in the vehicle width direction. As shown in FIG. 2, the fuel tanks 7 are disposed on the left and right sides of the center in the vehicle width direction. The two fuel tanks 7 are disposed 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. The fuel tank 7 also includes a portion located outside the body frame 2a (or the seat 14) in the vehicle width direction.

[0034] 1 and 2 show the layout of the fuel tank 7 in the vehicle length direction. The fuel tank 7 is located relatively rearward. More specifically, the rear end of the fuel tank 7 is located rearward of the rear end of the seat 14. More specifically, the front end of the fuel tank 7 is located rearward of the rear end of the seat 14. Here, the seat 14 is a seat on which a 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. More specifically, the rear end of the fuel tank 7 is located rearward of the rear end of the rear wheel 4.

[0035] 1 and 3 show the layout of the fuel tank 7 in the height direction. The fuel tank 7 is located at a relatively high position. More specifically, 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.

[0036] 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.

[0037] Next, a mounting structure for the fuel tank 7 will be described. The fuel tank 7 is mounted to the tank frame 30 via, for example, connecting members and bolts. The tank frame 30 is a frame connected to the vehicle body frame 2a. The tank frame 30 may support the fuel tank 7 in a vibration-proof manner.

[0038] The fuel tank 7 has an exposed portion that is exposed from the tank frame 30. In other words, the fuel tank 7 is exposed in at least one of the up-down, left-right, and front-rear directions with respect to a frame including the tank frame 30. In this embodiment, the fuel tank 7 is exposed upward with respect to the tank frame 30 in a top view. This allows the tank frame 30 to be attached and detached from the fuel tank 7 while preventing interference with the tank frame 30. In this manner, it is preferable that the tank frame 30 is formed with an opening for attaching and detaching the fuel tank 7. In the case of the first embodiment, the fuel tank 7 is exposed in the left-right direction with respect to the tank frame 30 in a side view.

[0039] In this embodiment, the tank frame 30 only needs to have a rigidity sufficient to mount or support the fuel tank 7. This is because the fuel tank 7 is prevented from coming off the vehicle body 2 by a flexible member 41 described below. For this reason, the tank frame 30 may have a rigidity and shape sufficient to allow the fuel tank 7 to come off the tank frame 30 when an external force that would cause the fuel tank 7 to come off the vehicle body 2 occurs, such as when the saddle-type vehicle 1 collides. Therefore, there is no need for a tank frame structure that surrounds the fuel tank 7 in all directions, or for strength sufficient to prevent the fuel tank 7 from coming off against a strong external force from any direction.

[0040] In normal use of the saddle riding type vehicle 1, the fuel tank 7 does not come off the tank frame 30. However, if a strong external force is applied, such as by colliding with an obstacle or another vehicle, the attachment portion between the fuel tank 7 and the tank frame 30 may be damaged, and the fuel tank 7 may come off the tank frame 30. In addition, if the saddle riding type vehicle 1 is in a state of overturning and skidding and collides with an obstacle or another vehicle, an external force may be applied from any direction. For example, an external force may be applied to the fuel tank 7 in a direction perpendicular to the direction connecting the front and rear wheels and the direction in which the rear wheel axle extends, and away from the rear wheel 4, which is upward in the normal riding posture.

[0041] Here, a structure in which the fuel tank is fixed only by a rigid frame has the following problem. That is, a typical frame is elongated and has a very high resistance to tensile loads, but not so high resistance to bending loads. Therefore, when an external force is applied in a specific direction, the frame may not be able to withstand the force and break, causing the connection to the fuel tank to be released. However, in order to provide resistance to external forces in various directions, it is necessary to either increase the bending load resistance of each frame or arrange the frames in various directions, and in either case the frame structure becomes complicated.

[0042] In this embodiment, the vehicle body 2 and the fuel tank 7 are connected using a flexible member 41 shown in Fig. 3 so that the connection between the vehicle body 2 and the fuel tank 7 can be maintained even when external forces are applied in various directions. In this way, even in an abnormal state such as a collision state, the connection state of the fuel tank 7 with the vehicle body 2 is maintained, so that the fuel tank 7 is prevented from becoming significantly separated from the vehicle body 2. This makes it possible to prevent the fuel tank 7, which has detached from the vehicle body frame 2a, from impeding the travel of other vehicles.

[0043] The flexible member 41 is a flexible, elongated member. Flexibility is the property of being deformed when a force is applied in a direction intersecting the longitudinal direction, in other words, the property of bending. It is preferable that the amount of deformation in the longitudinal direction of the flexible member 41, in other words, the amount of expansion and contraction, is small when a force parallel to the longitudinal direction is applied. In other words, it is preferable that the flexibility of the flexible member 41 in the direction intersecting the longitudinal direction is higher than the flexibility of the flexible member 41 in the longitudinal direction. In addition, it is preferable that the flexible member 41 is a rope-like member, in other words, a member configured by twisting together a plurality of thin fibers. The twisted fibers are, for example, chemical fibers or metal fibers. In addition, as long as the flexible member 41 has flexibility, it is not limited to a member configured by twisting together fibers. In other words, the flexible member 41 may be a single flexible member, or may be a plurality of members connected by a method other than twisting. According to the above definition, for example, a net-like member, a wire, a cord-like body, a cable, a chain, etc. can be the flexible member 41 of this embodiment. In other words, the flexible member 41 is made of a material that has sufficient strength in the tensile direction and allows deformation in the bending direction even when an external force is applied that separates the fuel tank 7 from the vehicle body 2.

[0044] As a result, even if a strong external force is applied to the saddle riding type vehicle 1 and the fuel tank 7 is detached from the tank frame 30, the connection state between the vehicle body 2 and the fuel tank 7 is maintained via the flexible member 41. As a result, the fuel tank 7 continues to be located near the vehicle body 2. In particular, since the flexible member 41 is deformed when a bending load is applied, as shown in FIG. 4, when the fuel tank 7 is separated from the tank frame 30, it is deformed in a straight line so as to connect the fuel tank 7 and the vehicle body 2. As a result, a tensile load is applied to the flexible member 41. Therefore, the flexible member 41 does not break, and the connection between the vehicle body 2 and the fuel tank 7 is easily maintained. Even if the direction in which the fuel tank 7 is separated from the tank frame 30 is not fixed, the flexible member 41 extends in a straight line following the direction in which the fuel tank 7 is separated, so that the connection between the vehicle body 2 and the fuel tank 7 can be easily maintained even if an external force is applied in any direction.

[0045] One end of the flexible member 41 is attached to the fuel tank 7. Attachment includes not only a configuration in which two members are directly attached, but also a case in which two members are attached via an attachment member such as a bracket. Specifically, a tank bracket 42 is attached to the connection portion 52 of the fuel tank 7. In other words, the tank bracket 42 is attached to one end in the longitudinal direction or one end in the axial direction of the fuel tank 7. The tank bracket 42 is a member for attaching the flexible member 41. The tank bracket 42 is, for example, a ring-shaped member. Meanwhile, a metal carabiner 41a is provided at one end of the flexible member 41. Therefore, the flexible member 41 can be attached to the fuel tank 7 by opening the carabiner 41a and passing it through the tank bracket 42, and closing the carabiner 41a.

[0046] Since the end of the flexible member 41 is the carabiner 41a, the carabiner 41a can be attached to the tank bracket 42 and detached from the tank bracket 42 with a simple operation. Therefore, the carabiner 41a corresponds to a detachable structure for switching the fuel tank 7 and the flexible member 41 between an attached state and a detached state. Note that the carabiner 41a may be provided on the tank bracket 42 side, not on the flexible member 41 side. Also, the detachable structure may be other than the carabiner 41a. For example, when the tank bracket 42 is detachably attached to the connection portion 52 with a bolt or the like, the bolt or the like corresponds to the detachable structure.

[0047] Since the connection part 52 generally has a strong structure, by attaching one end of the flexible member 41 to the connection part 52, the attachment between the flexible member 41 and the fuel tank 7 is unlikely to come loose. However, the flexible member 41 may be attached to a part other than the connection part 52.

[0048] Furthermore, the flexible member 41 may be attached to the fuel tank 7 without using the tank bracket 42. For example, if the connection part 52 itself includes a ring-shaped member, a carabiner 41a can be attached to the connection part 52. Furthermore, the attachment method is not limited to the carabiner 41a, and the flexible member 41 and the tank bracket 42 may be fixed by wrapping the flexible member 41 around the tank bracket 42 or by sandwiching the flexible member 41 between the tank bracket 42.

[0049] The other end of the flexible member 41 is attached to the vehicle body 2. In this embodiment, the flexible member 41 is attached to the vehicle body frame 2a and the engine 8. Specifically, at the location where the vehicle body frame 2a attaches the engine 8 with a bolt, a vehicle body bracket 43 is fastened together. The vehicle body bracket 43 is, for example, a bracket having a metal carabiner structure. Therefore, a detachable structure is also used for attaching the flexible member 41 to the vehicle body 2. As described above, in this embodiment, the flexible member 41 can be easily attached and detached, so that it is easy to temporarily remove the flexible member 41 during maintenance and to attach the flexible member 41 back to its original position after maintenance.

[0050] The carabiner may be provided on the flexible member 41 side, not on the vehicle body bracket 43. In this case, the vehicle body bracket 43 may be an eyebolt having a ring-shaped member on the vehicle body frame 2a. In addition, the flexible member 41 may be attached to the vehicle body 2 using a structure different from the carabiner.

[0051] The body frame 2a and the engine 8 have a strong structure and are not easily damaged. Therefore, by attaching the flexible member 41 to the body frame 2a and the engine 8, the attachment between the body 2 and the fuel tank 7 is not easily released. However, the flexible member 41 may be attached to another location on the body 2.

[0052] Moreover, the flexible member 41 may be attached to the vehicle body 2 without using the tank bracket 42 or without using a carabiner. For example, the flexible member 41 may be attached to the vehicle body 2 by wrapping the flexible member 41 around the vehicle body frame 2a or by passing the flexible member 41 through a through-hole of the vehicle body frame 2a or the engine 8.

[0053] The midway portion of the flexible member 41 is attached to the vehicle body 2 using a midway attachment portion 45. The midway attachment portion 45 is a member for restricting the movement of the flexible member 41 to prevent the flexible member 41 from moving significantly and becoming a hindrance during normal driving or the like. The midway attachment portion 45 is, for example, a loop-shaped hook-and-loop fastener attached to the vehicle body frame 2a, or a ring-shaped or hook-shaped member made of resin. When the midway attachment portion 45 is a hook-and-loop fastener, the midway portion of the flexible member 41 is attached to the vehicle body frame 2a using the midway attachment portion 45 after both ends of the flexible member 41 are attached. When the midway attachment portion 45 is a resin ring, the flexible member 41 is attached so as to pass through the midway attachment portion 45 when the flexible member 41 is routed.

[0054] The purpose of the mid-mounting portion 45 is to restrict the movement of the flexible member 41, not to firmly fix the flexible member 41. Therefore, when a strong external force is applied and the fuel tank 7 comes off the tank frame 30, it is preferable that the attachment is also released by the mid-mounting portion 45. As a result, the flexible member 41 is more likely to be subjected to a tensile load rather than a bending load, and therefore the flexible member 41 is less likely to break.

[0055] In order to easily release the attachment by the intermediate attachment portion 45, in this embodiment, the third strength, which is the strength at which the flexible member 41 is attached to the intermediate attachment portion 45, is smaller than the second strength, which is the strength at which one end of the flexible member 41 is attached to the fuel tank 7, and is smaller than the first strength, which is the strength at which the other end of the flexible member 41 is attached to the vehicle body 2. The strength here means the maximum value of the external force that can maintain the attachment. In this embodiment, the first strength and the second strength are the magnitude of the force required to break a metal carabiner, and the third strength is the magnitude of the force required to break a hook-and-loop fastener or a resin ring. Therefore, the third strength is clearly smaller than the first strength and clearly smaller than the second strength. Therefore, the flexible member 41 is easily subjected to a tensile load.

[0056] The intermediate attachment portion 45 is not limited to the above example, and may be, for example, a rod-shaped portion around which the intermediate portion of the flexible member 41 is wound. Also, a gap in the cowl 2b or a gap between the body frame 2a and the cowl 2b may be used as the intermediate attachment portion 45. In other words, by passing the flexible member 41 through these gaps, large movement of the flexible member 41 may be suppressed.

[0057] In this embodiment, the tank frame 30 is disposed below the fuel tank 7 and supports the fuel tank 7. As shown in FIG. 8, the tank frame 30 may have a guard portion 31 that covers the outer side of the fuel tank 7 in the vehicle width direction while supporting the fuel tank 7. The provision of the guard portion 31 prevents the fuel tank from directly colliding with the road surface or the like in the event of a fall. Even if the guard portion 31 is provided, the fuel tank 7 is exposed upward with respect to the tank frame 30, which makes it easy to attach and detach the fuel tank 7. In addition, the upward exposure of the fuel tank 7 makes it easy for the fuel tank 7 to come off the tank frame 30 in the event of a collision, but the provision of the flexible member 41 described above makes it easier to maintain the connection state with the vehicle body 2.

[0058] Next, another embodiment will be described with reference to Figures 5 to 7. In the following description, the same or similar members as those in the above-described embodiment will be denoted by the same reference numerals in the drawings, and the description thereof may be omitted.

[0059] In the second embodiment shown in Fig. 5, the vehicle body 2 and the fuel tank 7 are connected using a plurality of flexible members 41. In detail, a first flexible member 41 is attached to one axial or longitudinal end of the fuel tank 7, and a second flexible member 41 is attached to the other axial or longitudinal end of the fuel tank 7. The two flexible members 41 are attached to the vehicle body frame 2a and the engine 8, similarly to the first embodiment.

[0060] As a result, even if one of the flexible members 41 breaks, the connection between the vehicle body 2 and the fuel tank 7 can be maintained by the other flexible member 41, so that reliability is high.

[0061] In the second embodiment, the attachment location of the first flexible member 41 on the fuel tank 7 side and the attachment location of the second flexible member 41 on the fuel tank 7 side are different, but they may be the same. Also, in the second embodiment, the attachment location of the first flexible member 41 on the vehicle body 2 side and the attachment location of the second flexible member 41 on the vehicle body 2 side are the same, but they may be different. Also, in the second embodiment, the first flexible member 41 is attached to the mid-mounting portion 45 and the second flexible member 41 is not attached to the mid-mounting portion 45, but both may be attached to the mid-mounting portion 45.

[0062] In the third embodiment shown in FIG. 6, another example of the mounting position of the flexible member 41 and the vehicle body 2 is shown.

[0063] The first flexible member 41 is directly attached to the engine 8. Specifically, a ring portion 41b is provided at an end of the flexible member 41. The flexible member 41 is attached to the engine 8 by aligning the ring portion 41b with a screw hole of the engine 8 and inserting a bolt to fasten them.

[0064] The second flexible member 41 is directly attached to the engine mounting member 47. The engine mounting member 47 corresponds to a drive source mounting member. The engine mounting member 47 is a member for mounting the engine 8 to the vehicle body bracket 43. In detail, two mounting holes are formed in the engine mounting member 47, one of which is used for mounting the vehicle body frame 2a and the other is used for mounting the engine 8. In addition, the flexible member 41 can be attached to the vehicle body bracket 43 using one of the various examples described above.

[0065] In the fourth embodiment shown in FIG. 7, another example of the mounting position between the flexible member 41 and the fuel tank 7, and another example of the mounting position between the flexible member 41 and the vehicle body 2 are shown.

[0066] The fuel tank 7 of the fourth embodiment is made of metal, and a ring-shaped tank bracket 42 is connected to it by welding. The tank bracket 42 is connected to the outer circumferential surface of the fuel tank 7 at a midpoint in the longitudinal direction of the fuel tank 7. A carabiner 41a at one end of a flexible member 41 is attached to the tank bracket 42.

[0067] Similarly, a ring-shaped vehicle body bracket 43 is connected to the vehicle body frame 2a by welding. A carabiner 41a at the other end of the flexible member 41 is attached to the vehicle body bracket 43.

[0068] When manufacturing the saddle-type vehicles 1 of the first to fourth embodiments, the fuel tank 7 is connected to the vehicle body 2 in the following manner. First, an operator attaches the flexible member 41 to the vehicle body 2 (specifically, the vehicle body frame 2a, the engine 8, the engine mounting member 47, or the vehicle body bracket 43, etc.), and then the operator attaches the flexible member 41 to the fuel tank 7 (specifically, the connection portion 52, its periphery, the tank bracket 42, etc.). The order of attachment may be reversed. In this manner, the fuel tank 7 is connected to the vehicle body 2.

[0069] (Feature 1) The saddle riding type vehicle 1 of the above embodiment includes a vehicle body 2, a fuel tank 7, and a flexible member 41. The fuel tank 7 is attached to the vehicle body 2 and stores fuel. The flexible member 41 is a flexible, elongated member, and connects the vehicle body 2 and the fuel tank 7 together.

[0070] The straddle-type vehicle 1 may be subjected to a strong external force that may cause the fuel tank 7 to come off from the vehicle body 2. Even if such an external force is applied and the fuel tank 7 comes off from the vehicle body 2, the vehicle body 2 and the fuel tank 7 are connected by the flexible member 41, so that the fuel tank 7 can be kept positioned near the vehicle body 2. Furthermore, when the flexible member 41 receives a force from the detached fuel tank 7, it extends in the direction in which the force is received and becomes linear. Therefore, even if an external force is applied to the fuel tank 7 in any direction, the strength and properties of the flexible member 41 can be utilized. In other words, since only one flexible member 41 can have resistance to external forces in any direction, the structure can be simplified compared to a structure in which the fuel tank 7 is attached using only a rigid frame. Specifically, it is not necessary to surround the fuel tank 7 in all directions with the tank frame 30, a metal body, or the like, and it is not necessary to have a rigid structure that assumes external forces from any direction. This makes it easy to simplify the support structure for the fuel tank 7.

[0071] (Feature 2) In the saddle-type vehicle 1 of the above embodiment, at least one of the fuel tank 7 and the body 2 is provided with a bracket (tank bracket 42, body bracket 43) for connecting the flexible member 41, and the flexible member 41 is connected via the bracket.

[0072] Even if the fuel tank 7 or the vehicle body 2 has a structure that makes it difficult to connect the flexible member 41, connection is possible by providing a bracket.

[0073] (Feature 3) In the saddle riding type vehicle 1 of the above embodiment, an attachment / detachment structure for switching between an attached state and a detached state of the flexible member 41 and the vehicle body 2 is provided.

[0074] For example, during maintenance, the fuel tank 7 can be easily attached to and detached from the vehicle body 2.

[0075] (Feature 4) In the saddle riding type vehicle 1 of the above embodiment, the fuel tank 7 has a cylindrical shape. A flexible member 41 is attached to one end of the fuel tank 7 in the axial direction.

[0076] When the fuel tank 7 is detached from the vehicle body 2 by an external force, a tensile load can be generated at the axial end of the fuel tank 7 via the flexible member 41.

[0077] (Feature 5) In the saddle riding vehicle 1 of the above embodiment, the fuel tank 7 is provided with a connection part 52 to which a fuel pipe 61 for feeding fuel into and out of the fuel tank 7 is connected. A flexible member 41 is attached to the connection part 52 or around the connection part 52.

[0078] Since the connection portion 52 has a strong structure, it is not easily damaged even when a strong external force is applied through the flexible member 41 .

[0079] (Feature 6) In the saddle riding vehicle 1 of the above embodiment, the fuel tank 7 is cylindrical. Of the longitudinal ends of the fuel tank 7, the flexible member 41 is connected to the end closest to where the flexible member 41 is attached to the vehicle body 2.

[0080] It is possible to shorten the length of the flexible member 41. It is easier to attach the flexible member 41 to the end of the fuel tank 7 than to the outer circumferential surface of the fuel tank 7.

[0081] (Feature 7) In the saddle riding type vehicle 1 of the above embodiment, the vehicle body 2 or the fuel tank 7 is provided with the mid-mounting portion 45 for mounting the mid-portion of the flexible member 41 .

[0082] The flexible member 41 is unlikely to get in the way of the driver.

[0083] (Feature 8) In the saddle-ride type vehicle 1 of the above embodiment, the strength at which one end of the flexible member 41 is attached to the vehicle body 2 is referred to as a first strength. The strength at which the other end of the flexible member 41 is attached to the fuel tank 7 is referred to as a second strength. When the strength at which the middle portion of the flexible member 41 is attached to the middle attachment portion 45 is referred to as a third strength, the third strength is smaller than the first strength and also smaller than the second strength.

[0084] In a situation where the fuel tank 7 is detached from the vehicle body 2, the flexible member 41 comes off the mid-mounting portion 45 before a strong bending load is applied to the mid-portion of the flexible member 41, and therefore a strong bending load is unlikely to be applied to the mid-portion of the flexible member 41. Therefore, it is easy to prevent the flexible member 41 from breaking.

[0085] (Feature 9) The saddle-ride type vehicle 1 according to the above embodiment. The vehicle body 2 includes an engine 8 and a vehicle body frame 2a. The engine 8 generates power to rotate the rear wheel 4. The vehicle body frame 2a supports the engine 8. The flexible member 41 is connected to the vehicle body frame 2a, the engine 8, or an engine mounting member 47 that mounts the engine 8 to the vehicle body frame 2a.

[0086] By connecting the fuel tank 7 to the vehicle body frame 2a, the engine 8, or the engine mounting member 47, which are strong members, the connection of the fuel tank 7 can be made even stronger.

[0087] The above-mentioned features 1 to 10 can be appropriately combined as long as no contradiction occurs. For example, feature N (N=1, 2, . . . , 9) can be appropriately combined with at least one of features 1 to N-1.

[0088] Although the preferred embodiment of the present application has been described above, the above configuration can be modified, for example, as follows.

[0089] The structure of the above embodiment can be applied to vehicles in general, but is particularly suitable for vehicles with a structure in which the fuel tank is partially exposed from the frame or body, in other words, the fuel tank is not enclosed by a frame. For example, it can be particularly suitable for open-type vehicles in which the passenger space is open to the space outside the vehicle. In particular, it can be particularly suitable for lean vehicles that are difficult to maintain their position during a collision or that tilt when turning.

[0090] The layout of the fuel tank 7 in the above embodiment is an example, and other layouts may be used. For example, the fuel tank 7 may be disposed in front of the driver's seat 14, or may be disposed behind the driver's seat 14 and below the upper end of the rear wheel 4. [Explanation of symbols]

[0091] 1. Saddle-type vehicle (vehicle, vehicle) 2. Vehicle body (vehicle body) 7. Fuel Tank 41 Flexible member

Claims

1. The car body and a fuel tank attached to the vehicle body and configured to store fuel; a flexible member that is an elongated member having flexibility and connects the vehicle body and the fuel tank; A vehicle equipped with:

2. 2. A vehicle as claimed in claim 1, A vehicle, wherein a bracket for connecting the flexible member is provided on at least one of the fuel tank and the vehicle body, and the flexible member is connected via the bracket.

3. 3. A vehicle according to claim 1 or 2, A vehicle having an attachment / detachment structure for switching between an attached state and a detached state of the flexible member and the vehicle body.

4. 3. A vehicle according to claim 1 or 2, The fuel tank is cylindrical in shape, The vehicle, wherein the flexible member is attached to one axial end of the fuel tank.

5. 3. A vehicle according to claim 1 or 2, the fuel tank is provided with a connection portion to which a fuel pipe for feeding fuel into and out of the fuel tank is connected; A vehicle, wherein the flexible member is attached to the connection portion or around the connection portion.

6. 3. A vehicle according to claim 1 or 2, The fuel tank is cylindrical. a flexible member coupled to an end of the fuel tank in a longitudinal direction that is closer to an attachment point of the flexible member to the vehicle body.

7. 3. A vehicle according to claim 1 or 2, A vehicle, wherein the vehicle body or the fuel tank is provided with a mid-mounting portion for mounting a mid-portion of the flexible member.

8. 8. A vehicle according to claim 7, A strength at which one end of the flexible member is attached to the vehicle body is referred to as a first strength, a strength at which the other end of the flexible member is attached to the fuel tank is referred to as a second strength, When the strength at which the intermediate portion of the flexible member is attached to the intermediate attachment portion is referred to as a third strength, The third intensity is less than the first intensity and less than the second intensity.

9. 3. A vehicle according to claim 1 or 2, the vehicle is a saddle-type vehicle, The vehicle body is A drive source that generates power for rotating the drive wheels; a vehicle body frame supporting the drive source; Equipped with A vehicle, wherein the flexible member is connected to the vehicle body frame, the drive source, or a drive source mounting member that mounts the drive source to the vehicle body frame.

10. A method for connecting a fuel tank in which fuel is stored to a vehicle body, comprising the steps of: A flexible member, which is an elongated member having flexibility, is attached to a vehicle body; A method of connecting the flexible member to the fuel tank.

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