Transverse Fuel Pump Mounting in Motorcycle Tanks
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing fuel pump mounting configuration in motorcycles restricts fuel tank design, leads to inefficient fuel pickup during vehicle attitude changes, and complicates the attachment of fuel lines due to the vertical pump axis and protruding cup configuration.
Innovation Solution
A transversely oriented fuel pump assembly is mounted within the fuel tank on a horizontal surface, reducing the pump's height and preventing fuel from flowing away, while simplifying the attachment of fuel lines and reducing the projection of the pump out of the tank.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the fuel pump is mounted inside the fuel tank with the pump axis extending vertically, then the fuel pump can be securely mounted, but the height of the pump becomes a factor that restricts fuel tank design and the fuel pump does not serve to baffle movement of the fuel during acceleration and deceleration
Solution Approach 1:
The patent inverts the conventional vertical pump axis orientation by positioning the pump axis horizontally across the fuel tank. This inversion allows the pump to effectively baffle fuel movement during acceleration and deceleration while reducing the pump's vertical height footprint, thereby resolving the contradiction between mounting security and tank design flexibility.
2Reliability
If the fuel pump is mounted inside the fuel tank with the pump axis extending vertically, then the fuel pump can be securely mounted, but when fuel moves back and forth relative to the vehicle, the fuel pump does not serve to baffle movement of the fuel and in some cases the fuel flows away from the fuel pump inlet and cannot be picked up by the fuel pump
Solution Approach 1:
By inverting the pump axis orientation from vertical to horizontal, the pump directly opposes the longitudinal fuel movement caused by acceleration and deceleration. This horizontal orientation allows the pump inlet to face the fuel surface consistently, preventing fuel from flowing away from the inlet and ensuring reliable fuel pickup during dynamic vehicle operations.
3Reliability
If the fuel pump is mounted inside the fuel tank on a bottom surface with a cup structure, then the fuel pump can be securely mounted, but the mounting configuration becomes complicated and results in the cup projecting out of the fuel tank bottom into positions that can make difficult the attachment of fuel lines
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and eliminates the complex cup structure from the mounting configuration. By using a simplified horizontal mounting arrangement where the pump axis extends transversely across the tank bottom, the design removes the projecting cup that complicated fuel line attachment, while still providing secure mounting through the horizontal axis configuration.
Data Source
AI summary
In a straddle type of vehicle having a fuel tank (30) with a built-in fuel pump (42), the fuel pump (42) is placed in the fuel tank (30) with the pump axis (A) directed nearly in the vehicle width direction. The straddling type of vehicle is provided that a nearly horizontal surface portion (31b) is formed on the bottom of the fuel tank (30) and the fuel pump (42) is placed on the nearly horizontal surface portion (31b) with the pump axis (A) directed nearly in the horizontal direction.