Pivotable Motorcycle Fuel Tank for Canister Access
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Solution Overview
Problem
Motorcycles face challenges in effectively managing evaporative fuel emissions due to space constraints and thermal requirements, which complicates the placement and maintenance of evaporative emission control devices, and there is a risk of mechanical and thermal damage to these devices.
Innovation Solution
A motorcycle design where the fuel tank is pivotably mounted relative to the frame, allowing the evaporative fuel storage canister to be positioned favorably for thermal efficiency and accessibility, with the canister attached to the underside or front of the fuel tank, ensuring protection from solar radiation and mechanical damage, and allowing easy access during maintenance by pivoting the tank into a service position.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If the container is arranged below the fuel tank and above the engine to meet thermal requirements, then thermal efficiency for evaporative fuel storage is improved, but accessibility for maintenance work deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The fuel tank is made pivotable relative to the frame, allowing it to be positioned in different orientations. During normal operation, the tank is in a first position that provides optimal thermal conditions for the canister. During maintenance, the tank can be pivoted to a second position that exposes the canister and underlying components for easy access, thus resolving the contradiction between thermal efficiency and maintenance accessibility.
2Reliability
If the container is arranged close to the engine to utilize heat for fuel evaporation, then emission control effectiveness is improved, but risk of thermal damage increases
Solution Approach 1:
The fuel tank serves as an intermediary structure between the engine and the canister. The canister is attached to the underside or front of the fuel tank, which positions it near the engine to benefit from thermal conditions that promote fuel evaporation and emission control effectiveness. However, the fuel tank acts as a protective barrier that shields the canister from direct thermal damage and mechanical damage, thus resolving the contradiction between emission control effectiveness and thermal damage risk.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If the canister is attached to the fuel tank, then protection from mechanical damage and solar radiation is improved, but complexity of the fuel system increases
Solution Approach 1:
The canister is integrated with the fuel tank by attaching it to the underside or front of the tank. This merging of components achieves multiple benefits: the fuel tank provides mechanical protection and shields the canister from solar radiation during normal operation. While this integration does add some complexity to the fuel system, the overall design simplifies maintenance by enabling the tank to be pivoted for access to the canister, and reduces the need for separate protective structures.
4Ease of repair
If the fuel tank is pivotably mounted to enable maintenance access, then ease of maintenance is improved, but reliability of fuel supply may deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The fuel tank is designed with a pivotable mounting that allows it to be positioned in a first orientation during normal operation, ensuring proper fuel supply to the engine. During maintenance, the tank can be pivoted to a second orientation that provides easy access to the canister and underlying components. The pivotable design includes appropriate connections and sealing mechanisms that maintain fuel supply reliability in both positions, thus resolving the contradiction between maintenance accessibility and fuel supply reliability.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This design enhances the accessibility and maintenance of vehicle parts under the fuel tank, protects the canister from mechanical and thermal damage, and optimizes the thermal conditions for the evaporative emission control device, improving its effectiveness while preventing liquid fuel ingress during pivoting.
Implementation Method 1
typically, these are devices that allow evaporated fuel that escapes from the fuel tank to be stored and then returned to the engine. For this purpose, these devices are often designed in the form of a container in which an activated carbon filter is arranged, from which evaporated fuel can be collected and temporarily stored.
Implementation Method 2
the fuel tank is mounted pivotably relative to the frame between a maintenance position and the position of use
Data Source
Figure 1a~1b
Figure 1c~2
Figure 3a~3b
AI summary
Motorcycle comprising: - an internal combustion engine, - a frame, - a fuel tank for storing fuel to be consumed by the internal combustion engine, - a container, preferably substantially cylindrical, which is connected to the internal combustion engine and the fuel tank, wherein the container is designed to store fuel evaporating from the fuel tank, wherein the container is at least partially covered by the fuel tank in a service position, wherein the fuel tank (2) is pivotably mounted relative to the frame (7) between a maintenance position and the service position.