With Fuel Supply For Internal Combustion Engine Patents (Class 180/69.4)
  • Patent number: 11679669
    Abstract: A refuse vehicle includes a chassis having a prime mover, a body assembly coupled to the chassis, a tailgate pivotally coupled to the body assembly, an energy storage device coupled to the tailgate and moveable therewith, at least one of a non-structural conduit, a non-structural raceway, and a non-structural channel configured to contain at least one of wiring and a hydraulic line, and an impact mitigation system including at least one frame member positioned to direct impact loads around the energy storage device. The prime mover is configured to be powered by the energy storage device. The impact mitigation system provides a protected region within which the energy storage device is disposed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2023
    Assignee: Oshkosh Corporation
    Inventors: Lucas D. Crist, Grant D. Wildgrube, Jarud H. Hoefker, Leslie H. Schwartz
  • Patent number: 10682907
    Abstract: A vehicle body structure includes a rear floor panel, a first rear cross member, a fuel tank and a VSF valve. The rear floor panel includes a first wall and a second wall. The first rear cross member includes a pair of first vertical walls extending in an upward/downward direction, and a first horizontal wall configured to connect lower ends of the pair of first vertical walls. The fuel tank includes a second connecting surface extending along the first horizontal wall. The first horizontal wall includes a pair of horizontal sections and an inclined section. The VSF valve is installed at a position overlapping the inclined section in a forward/rearward direction of a vehicle body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 16, 2020
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yuki Muramatsu, Masahito Murota
  • Patent number: 10644641
    Abstract: A vehicle drive device includes: a casing within which lubricating oil is received; a rotating electrical machine provided within the casing, and including a stator with a coil; a temperature sensor provided within the casing; and a control device that functions as: a coil temperature estimation device executing a first temperature estimation in which correlation with a detected temperature is relatively high, and a second temperature estimation in which the correlation is relatively low; a determination device determining whether or not positional relationship between the temperature sensor and oil level is in a permitted state that permits the first temperature estimation; and a limitation device limiting load factor of the rotating electrical machine based on a result of the first temperature estimation when being in the permitted state, and limiting the load factor based on a result of the second temperature estimation when not being in the permitted state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2020
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Takumu Honda, Shigeru Kimura, Hiroshi Inano
  • Patent number: 10618405
    Abstract: A refuse vehicle includes a chassis having an engine, a body assembly, a tailgate pivotally attached to the body assembly, a CNG fuel system having a CNG fuel tank coupled to the tailgate and moveable therewith, the engine configured to be powered by the CNG fuel system, at least one of a non-structural conduit, a non-structural raceway, and a non-structural channel configured to contain at least one of wiring and a hydraulic line, and an impact mitigation system. The impact mitigation system is a passive system configured to direct impact loads around the CNG fuel tank. The impact mitigation system provides a protected region within which the CNG fuel tank is disposed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2020
    Assignee: Oshkosh Corporation
    Inventors: Lucas D. Crist, Grant D. Wildgrube, Jarud H. Hoefker, Leslie H. Schwartz
  • Patent number: 10369881
    Abstract: An evaporative fuel treatment apparatus, which is loaded on a hybrid vehicle equipped with a fuel tank and a battery mounted forward of the fuel tank, has a sealing valve for sealing evaporative fuel in the fuel tank. The sealing valve is disposed between the battery and the fuel tank and is arranged above the battery. The evaporative fuel treatment apparatus can prevent fuel leakage from the sealing valve more reliably.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2019
    Assignees: MITSUBISHI JIDOSHA ENGINEERING KABUSHIKI KAISHA, MITSUBISHI JIDOSHA KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Kenichi Kunii, Takayuki Sano
  • Patent number: 10233873
    Abstract: A motorcycle includes a fuel tank, a vehicle body frame, a pair of front forks, and a canister. The fuel tank contains gasoline therein. The vehicle body frame supports the fuel tank. The pair of front forks are placed spaced apart from each other in a vehicle width direction to support a front wheel from both sides in the vehicle width direction such that the front wheel is rotatable, and mounted to the vehicle body frame such that the pair of front forks are rotatable around a head pipe. The canister adsorbs gasoline contained in a gasoline vapor present inside the fuel tank and supplies the gasoline to an engine. The canister is placed inward in the vehicle width direction relative to the pair of front forks when viewed from a front, and in front of an engine when viewed from a side.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2019
    Assignee: KAWASAKI JUKOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Masashi Ono, Ichiro Tanaka, Kotaro Hanabusa, Shinji Ikeda, Takashi Uchida, Tomo Yamamoto, Daisuke Saeki, Hiroshi Ishii
  • Patent number: 10040345
    Abstract: A non-metallic transfer fuel tank, configured for placement in a spare tire location on a vehicle, includes a rigid non-metallic tank body with a plurality of cutouts formed in the tank body. A fill neck is coupled to the tank body along with a fuel line connector which connects the tank to the vehicle's existing fuel system. A mounting neck formed in the tank body contains a mounting rod. The mounting rod is coupled to a base plate which is below the tank body. The mounting rod is also coupled to a mounting plate which is located above the tank body. The mounting plate is further configured to couple in a winch location in the spare tire location on the vehicle using the same mounting method as was used to mount the spare tire winch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2018
    Inventors: Kenneth S. Anderson, Klint S. Anderson
  • Patent number: 9746116
    Abstract: A retainer is equipped with a regulation segment, which regulates the position of an O-ring placed in an insertion hole, and a prevention segment, which engages with a spool of a pipe and prevents the pipe from being removed from the insertion hole. Moreover, by moving the retainer toward the minus side in the Y direction and attaching it to an attachment segment, the retainer becomes sandwiched between an opposing wall portion and a tube segment in the X direction. Because of this, the number of parts can be reduced and the retainer that regulates the position of the O-ring can be prevented from being moved in the X direction by the pressure of fluid flowing inside the pipe connector in the X direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2017
    Assignee: SANOH INDUSTRIAL CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Koji Tayama, Satoshi Matsubara
  • Patent number: 9616939
    Abstract: There are provided a pair of diagonally-extending inclination members which are formed in a substantially X shape in a plan view and provided above or below a floor panel. Each of the pair of inclination members is configured to interconnect a connection portion of one of right-and-left side sills and a hinge pillar and a connection portion of the other of the right-and-left side sills and a center pillar. Thereby, a load-transmission efficiency between a front end of the above-described one of the right-and-left side sills and the other of the right-and-left side sills can be improved in the SOL or vehicle side collisions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2017
    Assignee: MAZDA MOTOR CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hirotaka Natsume, Kenji Maruyama, Hidetaka Goto, Isamu Kizaki, Satoshi Nakamura, Kohji Hashida
  • Patent number: 9574889
    Abstract: An apparatus for providing a distance to empty of a green vehicle includes a motor. A battery provides a driving voltage to the motor and includes a plurality of cells. A motor controller is configured to control driving and a torque of the motor. A battery manager is configured to control charge and discharge of the battery. A vehicle controller is configured to integratedly control the motor controller and the battery manager according to a state of the vehicle through a network. The vehicle controller calculates a first distance to empty (DTE) by using a past fuel efficiency, calculates a second DTE by using designated route driving information, and calculates a final DTE by using the first DTE and the second DTE.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2017
    Assignee: HYUNDAI MOTOR COMPANY
    Inventors: Sang Joon Kim, Baro Hyun, Kyu Hwan Jo
  • Patent number: 9551585
    Abstract: A fuel supply prompting method obtains a remaining fuel level of a vehicle from a detection unit, determines a fuel economy of the vehicle, and determines an available moving distance of the vehicle that the remaining fuel level can sustain according to the fuel economy of the vehicle. The method recalls a navigation system to determine a distance of a route from a current position of the vehicle to a destination. The method compares the available moving distance with the distance of the route from the current position of the vehicle to the destination, to determine whether the vehicle can reach the destination without refueling. The method further generates a first prompt when the vehicle cannot reach the destination without refueling. And a related vehicle assistance device is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2017
    Assignee: FIH (HONG KONG) LIMITED
    Inventor: Yu-Lun Li
  • Patent number: 9540049
    Abstract: A floor support structure of a vehicle comprises a floor extending in the vehicle width direction so as to allow occupants sitting side by side in the vehicle width direction to put their feet thereon. The floor includes a plane surface part and separating a vehicle interior from a vehicle exterior, a body for supporting each of front and rear end portions of the floor in the forward and rearward direction of the vehicle and each of left and right end portions of the floor in the vehicle width direction, and a floor stay making contact with a lower surface in or around the middle in the vehicle width direction of the floor so as to support the floor. The floor stay comprises a plurality of main stays and a sub-stay.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2017
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Shinichi Karube, Takeshi Kamiyama, Yoshihiro Tano
  • Patent number: 9400500
    Abstract: An automated driving system can determine, based on input from one or more sensors disposed on an autonomous vehicle, a required fuel level to complete a planned vehicle path and a current fuel level for the autonomous vehicle. If the current fuel level is below the required fuel level, the automated driving system can identify one or more refueling stations and send an indication to a driver of the autonomous vehicle requesting selection of one of the identified refueling stations. If a refueling station selection is received, the automated driving system can update the planned vehicle path to include a stop at the selected refueling station. If a refueling station selection is not received, the automated driving system can determine a critical fuel level. If the current fuel level falls below the critical fuel level, the automated driving system can drive the autonomous vehicle to a proximate refueling station.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 26, 2016
    Assignee: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.
    Inventor: Michael J. Delp
  • Patent number: 9150269
    Abstract: In a motorcycle including an engine equipped with an inlet system, a crankcase and a cylinder block; and a fuel tank which supplies fuel to the engine, an evaporation system is formed in a compact manner using the layout space above the crankcase. The evaporation system includes a canister which temporarily traps evaporated fuel evaporated inside the fuel tank; a purge device which introduces the evaporated fuel trapped in the canister into the inlet system; and a fresh air filter which filters air introduced to the canister during a purging operation for making the inlet system suction the evaporated fuel. In such evaporation system, the canister is disposed in the rear of the cylinder block and above the crankcase, and the air filter is disposed between the cylinder block and the canister.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 6, 2015
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yoshinobu Ozaki, Takeshi Shimura
  • Publication number: 20150129338
    Abstract: A system and attendant structural components for incorporating an alternate fuel supply, such as of the type used in combination with a conventional distillate fuel, to power a heavy duty industrial vehicle, such as a mine haul dump truck. The system and attendant structure includes a mounting assembly structured for containment and support of the alternate fuel and a containment area disposed on the vehicle and structured and dimensioned to retain the mounting assembly therein. The containment area and the mounting assembly are disposed in laterally adjacent, exposed relation to an operator area of the mine haul truck, wherein the mounting assembly and the containment area are cooperatively disposed and structured to facilitate storage of the alternate fuel and operative communication and distribution thereof with the powering engine of the mine haul vehicle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 11, 2014
    Publication date: May 14, 2015
    Inventor: JASON GREEN
  • Patent number: 8978617
    Abstract: There is provided a mounting structure for a battery and a fuel tank of a gasoline-electric hybrid vehicle. The mounting structure allows the battery to be disposed on one side of a propeller shaft, and the fuel tank to be disposed on the other side of the propeller shaft. The propeller shaft is disposed in the center of the vehicle and below the bearing surface of the rear seat, under the floor of the vehicle body so as to substantially extend in the fore-aft direction of the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2015
    Assignee: Fuji Jukogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Hiroshi Matsuda
  • Publication number: 20150068832
    Abstract: A rear subframe assembly, for use in a vehicle, includes a first and second side member that are coupled to a front cross member, a lower cross member, and an upper cross member. First and second gussets are provided to reinforce joints between each of the first and second side members and the front cross member. A motor mount portion for mounting a motor thereon is located between the side members and includes a first and second motor bracket each coupled to the front cross member through an isolator and to one of the side members through an isolator, the isolators for isolating the motor from vibration. A fuel tank mounting portion for mounting a fuel tank onto the subframe member is also provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 15, 2014
    Publication date: March 12, 2015
    Applicant: Fisker Automotive and Technology Group, LLC
    Inventors: Manfred Rumpel, Mike Jones, Art Goudie, Bill Stinnett, Amritpal Dhadiala
  • Publication number: 20150060171
    Abstract: A vehicle, including: a brake pedal arranged at a right step side, whose rotating shaft is disposed on a transmission case; a clutch pedal arranged at a left step side, whose rotating shaft is disposed on the transmission case; a right fuel tank disposed below the right step, and at a right side of the transmission case; and a left fuel tank disposed below the left step, and at a left side of the transmission case, wherein a pedal arm of the brake pedal is, in plane view, arranged between the transmission case and the right fuel tank, and a pedal arm of the clutch pedal is, in plane view, arranged between the transmission case and the left fuel tank.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 26, 2014
    Publication date: March 5, 2015
    Inventors: Yoshitaka TANI, Shoji KOMODA
  • Patent number: 8967314
    Abstract: A straddle-type vehicle has reduced wiring and a mass of the vehicle as measured in top-to-bottom and front-to-rear directions with respect to the vehicle is concentrated while minimizing the effects of heat from the engine on an engine control unit and ignition coil. An air cleaner is located rearward of a head pipe. A fuel tank is located rearward of the air cleaner. A rear portion of the air cleaner is located above the engine. A front portion of the fuel tank is located above the engine. The engine control unit and the ignition coil are located above the engine and located between the air cleaner and the fuel tank. The ignition coil overlaps the engine control unit as viewed in a side view of the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2015
    Assignee: Yamaha Hatsudoki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Yuki Murayama
  • Publication number: 20150047917
    Abstract: A utility vehicle includes a plurality of ground-engaging members, a frame assembly supported by the plurality of ground-engaging members, and a powertrain assembly. Additionally, the utility vehicle includes a body generally surrounding the frame assembly and including a hood, dashboard assembly, and a side panel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 13, 2014
    Publication date: February 19, 2015
    Inventors: Daniel L. Burt, II, Brent C. Eaton, Michael C. Bohnsack, Andrew J. Miller, Michael J. Hanten, Anthony J. Kinsman, Brent J. Hanson, Timothy F. Melvin, James E. Rogala, Ryan Black-Macken, Kurt E. Stenberg, Garth H. Bracy, Jeff M. Goulet, Jeremiah T. Johnstun
  • Publication number: 20140353058
    Abstract: A vehicle, including: one or more fuel filters through which fuel that is supplied from one or more fuel tanks to an engine is to pass; and an operating seat in which a worker is to perform operation for activating the vehicle and a working implement that is installed on the vehicle, wherein the one or more fuel tanks are arranged at a position which is placed below a floor-face the operating seat has, the engine is arranged at a position which is placed in front of the operating seat with respect to a forward movement direction of a vehicle main body, and the one or more fuel filters are arranged at a position which is placed at a right side or a left side of the one or more fuel tanks with respect to the forward movement direction of the vehicle main body.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 28, 2014
    Publication date: December 4, 2014
    Applicant: ISEKI & CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Akihiro SHIMIZU, Taketoshi FUJITA, Yoshihisa TSUZUKI, Tomohiro IGAUE
  • Patent number: 8881854
    Abstract: A vehicle fuel tank assembly is provided with a fuel tank and a fuel pump unit. The fuel tank is mounted on a saddle-riding type vehicle. The fuel tank has a flat shape elongated in the front-to-rear direction. The fuel pump unit includes a main body, a support body extending from the upper part of the main body in the longitudinal direction of the fuel tank, and a fuel level gauge supported and extending on the support body. The fuel level gauge includes a fuel level gauge body, a float arm pivotally supported by the gauge body, and a float on the free end of the float arm. The float arm extends in the longitudinal direction of the fuel tank and takes a highest swing position in an intermediate level of the height of the fuel tank. The fuel tank assembly enables fuel level detection in a wide range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2014
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Shin Nishimura, Keita Kinoshita, Takashi Sunaga, Takaaki Shomura
  • Patent number: 8881855
    Abstract: A distensible fuel tank included in a vehicle is provided. The distensible fuel tank includes a housing having an exterior surface and a lattice structure coupled to the exterior surface, the lattice structure including a plurality of intersecting wall members, at least two of the plurality of wall members having an unequal thickness.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2014
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Daniel Frank Cragel, Russell Randall Pearce, Patrick Sullivan
  • Publication number: 20140291047
    Abstract: Provided is a work machine capable of protecting a battery from splashing fuel during fuel filling. The work machine includes a fuel tank having a fuel-filler portion, a battery arranged near the fuel-filler portion, and a cover member. The cover member has a cover portion which covers an upper surface of the battery and an extension portion which continuously extends from the cover portion toward the fuel-filler portion to cover a region from the battery to the fuel-filler portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 14, 2014
    Publication date: October 2, 2014
    Applicant: KOBELCO CONSTRUCTION MACHINERY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Toshihisa MATSUMOTO, Isao MIYACHI
  • Patent number: 8839896
    Abstract: A saddle type vehicle includes a vehicle body frame with an engine and a seat supported on the vehicle body frame, a fuel tank disposed below the seat for storing fuel for the engine, a fuel pump disposed at a lower portion of the fuel tank for supplying the fuel to the engine, a regulator disposed below the fuel tank, a heat guard member disposed between the regulator and the fuel pump for blocking heat transfer, and a rear fender disposed below the regulator. By this structure the fuel tank need not be swollen downwardly by a great amount, and shaping of the fuel tank is facilitated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 23, 2014
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Tadashi Oshima, Hironori Nozawa, Shuto Higashizuru
  • Publication number: 20140238636
    Abstract: A vehicle includes a heat source, a duct system communicating via openings with the exterior of the vehicle and a chamber housing temperature-sensitive components of the vehicle, the openings of the duct system being arranged such that: motion of the vehicle generates a pressure difference between openings of the duct system so as to drive a cooling airflow through the chamber when the vehicle is in motion; and one opening is higher than another of the openings so as to promote a cooling airflow through the chamber by convection when the vehicle is stationary; the chamber being within sufficient proximity to the heat source so as to be capable of reaching temperatures high enough to effectively drive the convection flow and both said airflows being isolated from any airflow to the heat source.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 26, 2013
    Publication date: August 28, 2014
    Applicant: McLaren Automotive Limited
    Inventors: Dan PARRY-WILLIAMS, Ian Gough
  • Publication number: 20140202783
    Abstract: A driver's seat and a passenger's seat integrally formed as a bench seat elongated in a vehicle width direction together with an intermediate connecting portion, which connects the driver's seat and the passenger's seat. An upper end portion of a seat support frame configured to be erected above a footrest surface and constitute a part of a vehicle body frame formed along one plane. A fuel tank and canister arranged in a separated manner in the vehicle width direction below the bench seat supported on the upper end portion of the seat support frame.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 9, 2014
    Publication date: July 24, 2014
    Applicant: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Takaaki SHOMURA, Takahiro SANO, Teppei MAEDA
  • Patent number: 8752661
    Abstract: A technique for suppressing the stay of liquefied fuel in a purge pipe in a saddle seat type vehicle having a canister for adsorbing fuel gas. A motorcycle includes a center tunnel above which a foot passage space for allowing the passage of an operator's foot in riding the vehicle is formed and a fuel tank located inside the center tunnel on the front side of an engine. The center tunnel is provided so that a lowermost point of the foot passage space is higher in level than a connection point where a purge pipe is connected to an intake pipe, and the center tunnel has an inclined portion inclined upward from the lowermost point toward the front end of the vehicle. A purge control valve is located at a position on the front side of the lowermost point and higher in level than a canister.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 17, 2014
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hidenori Nagura, Kaori Goto
  • Patent number: 8746393
    Abstract: An engine unit 5 is arranged in the middle of the vehicle body frame 2 with respect to the widthwise direction of the vehicle and rearward of the steering shaft 28, and the fuel tank 10 with a built-in fuel pump 11 and the rear gear unit 31 comprising a wet brake 45 are arranged rearward of the cylinder head 20b of the engine unit 5 and such that at least a portion of the fuel tank 10 and of the rear gear unit 31 is located in the middle with respect to the widthwise direction of the vehicle, and the power steering unit 47 comprising an electric motor 49 is arranged forward of the cylinder head 20b and such that at least a portion of the unit is located in the middle with respect to the widthwise direction of the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 11, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 10, 2014
    Assignees: Yamaha Hatsudoki Kabushiki Kaisha, Yamaha Motor Manufacturing Corporation of America
    Inventors: Harold Bolich, Christopher Gervais, William McClendon
  • Publication number: 20140131125
    Abstract: A distensible fuel tank included in a vehicle, comprising a housing and a compliance structure coupled to the housing, the compliance structure including a support element coupled to a first side of a structural element and a reinforcing element coupled to a second opposing side of the structural element.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 21, 2014
    Publication date: May 15, 2014
    Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Daniel Frank Cragel, Russell Randall Pearce, Patrick Sullivan
  • Publication number: 20140116794
    Abstract: In a straddle vehicle such as a motorcycle, a harness in an electric power supply system which is thick, has a great weight, and is not easily mounted can be reduced in length as much as possible so that a weight and cost can be reduced, and assembling work can be made easier. An air cleaner and a fuel tank are disposed at a relatively rearward position such that the air cleaner and the fuel tank are disposed behind and distant from the head pipe to provide an electric component mounting space between the air cleaner and the fuel tank, and the head pipe, and a regulator, a relay box and a fuse box are disposed in the electric component mounting space. The fuel tank is disposed at a relatively rearward position such that its rear end portion is positioned behind and below a rear end of a main frame.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 28, 2012
    Publication date: May 1, 2014
    Applicant: KAWASAKI JUKOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Hideaki Kawai
  • Patent number: 8695746
    Abstract: A three wheeled vehicle is disclosed having a vehicle frame with a frame sidewall providing a substantially flat surface, with recesses in the flat surface. Alignment arms have inner ends and outer ends, where the inner ends are mounted to the frame sidewall, and the outer ends mount a wheel hub. The inner ends have couplings with pivotal portions and fixed portions, the pivotal portions being at least partially positioned within the recesses, and the fixed portions being attached to the substantially flat surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2014
    Assignee: Polaris Industries Inc.
    Inventors: James A. J. Holroyd, Gustavo A. Aramayo, Jason J. Hohenstein, Mathew Bradley Wiest, Jeffrey D. Bennett, Mark Alan Ziliak
  • Patent number: 8672359
    Abstract: An object is to provide a vehicle in which the configuration of a frame supporting a tank is effectively used. In order to achieve such an object, the vehicle includes a tank supported by a pair of side frames and cross frames which traverse the side frames, wherein a displacement suppression target on a vehicle floor is supported by the cross frames, the displacement suppression target having a relative displacement during an action of an external force on the vehicle, needed to be suppressed. The tank is preferably suspended on the cross frames. In addition, the displacement suppression target is preferably attached to the cross frames on which the tank is suspended.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2014
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Yasuhiko Ohashi
  • Publication number: 20140060946
    Abstract: A fuel tank mounting system for movable machine is disclosed. The mounting system may include a fuel tank connected to a frame of the movable machine in such a manner as to allow vertical motion of the tank relative to the frame. The fuel tank may be mounted to the frame using a spring and/or a shock absorber. The fuel tank may be a cryogenic fuel tank for storage of liquid natural gas. The shock absorbers may be tunable so that the level of dampening provided by the shock absorber is tailored to the type of machine and the specific mode of operation of the machine.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 31, 2012
    Publication date: March 6, 2014
    Applicant: CATERPILLAR, INC.
    Inventor: Martin Leo Willi
  • Patent number: 8657051
    Abstract: A distensible fuel tank included in a vehicle is provided. The distensible fuel tank includes a housing enclosing a lattice structure substantially spanning a portion of an interior defined by the housing, the lattice structure including a plurality of intersecting wall members, at least two of the wall members having an unequal thickness.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2014
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Daniel Frank Cragel, Russell Randall Pearce, Patrick Sullivan
  • Patent number: 8627912
    Abstract: A CNG filling receptacle holding device for a vehicle according to the present invention comprises additional elements for the installation of CNG filling receptacle with the fuel filling path opening on the body of the vehicle to that of the typical installation of the gas filling receptacle inside the engine compartment wherein a number of molded plates are made into elements for assembling onto a frame at the position of the CNG filling receptacle holding device for the vehicle according to the present invention.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 14, 2014
    Assignee: Surayut Posirisuk
    Inventor: Kasap Mulanon
  • Patent number: 8602147
    Abstract: In a compact excavator of the type wherein an opening portion of an engine room with a fuel tank installed therein is opened and closed with a bonnet and an operator's seat is provided on the bonnet, a load transfer member is provided on an upper surface of the fuel tank in a state in which a load receiving portion is in contact with the bonnet, so that a total load comprising the weight of the operator's seat, the weight of an operator sitting on the operator's seat and the weight of the bonnet is transmitted from the bonnet to the fuel tank as a force of pressing down the tank from above.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2013
    Assignee: Kobelco Construction Machinery Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Isao Miyachi
  • Patent number: 8596682
    Abstract: A load mounting system for a vehicle generally includes a support assembly configured for supporting a load, wherein the support assembly has a first end and a second end, the first end being mountable to a frame of a vehicle at one or more support assembly mounting locations along the frame. The system further includes at least one retaining device configured for securing the load on the support assembly, the at least one retaining device being coupleable to the first and second ends of the support assembly, wherein the at least one retaining device is coupleable to the first end of the support assembly at a different location than the support assembly mounting locations along the frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2013
    Assignee: PACCAR Inc
    Inventors: Erik Johnson, Chris Gross, Jeff Schlutt, Josh Engstrom
  • Patent number: 8579062
    Abstract: A fuel tank of a motor vehicle is mounted on a body structure of the motor vehicle via fastening elements. The fuel tank has a glass fiber reinforced shaped plastic part (12) as heat shield that at least partially covers a surface of the fuel tank and is mounted with the fuel tank on the body structure of the motor vehicle via the fastening elements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2013
    Assignee: Dr. Ing. h.c. F. Porsche Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Jens Niewoehner, Alexander Kiessling, Werner Speck
  • Patent number: 8534711
    Abstract: Piping unit for transporting a fuel is constructed by connecting a resin tube and a connector for connecting the resin tube to a mating pipe. The connector has a connector body including a retainer holding portion and a retainer for engaging with the mating pipe. The resin tube has a multilayered construction including an inner fuel barrier layer and an outer layer covered with a protective layer. The outer layer has a small outer diameter (od) up to 6 mm, the fuel barrier layer and the outer layer have a wall-thickness (t), and a ratio of the outer diameter (od)/the wall thickness (t) is in a range of 4 to 8.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2013
    Assignee: Tokai Rubber Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Tomoki Inoue, Masayuki Sasagawa
  • Publication number: 20130213723
    Abstract: A fuel pump device is installed in an engine compartment of a vehicle. The engine is placed in the engine compartment with a crankshaft extending in the vehicle width direction. An in-vehicle component is placed at one side of the engine compartment in the vehicle width direction relative to the engine. In the fuel pump device, an attachment is mounted on an end of the top of a cam housing mounted on the upper surface of the cylinder head. The end of the top of the cam housing is located at the other side of the engine compartment in the vehicle width direction relative to the engine. The attachment is so inclined with respect to the vehicle longitudinal direction as to be directed obliquely backward and upward from the cam shaft member toward the engine hood and the dash panel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 28, 2013
    Publication date: August 22, 2013
    Applicant: SUZUKI MOTOR CORPORATION
    Inventor: SUZUKI MOTOR CORPORATION
  • Patent number: 8511414
    Abstract: A system comprises a pressure raising valve having a valve member movable within a bore between a closed position and an open position in which fuel supplied to the pressure raising valve from a metering valve, in use, is delivered to an engine manifold, the valve member being urged towards its closed position by the fuel pressure within a control chamber, the pressure raising valve including a low pressure port which communicates with the control chamber when the valve member is in its closed position, the valve member closing the low pressure port upon movement thereof away from its closed position beyond a predetermined distance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2013
    Assignee: Goodrich Control Systems Limited
    Inventor: Denis Martin O'Shea
  • Publication number: 20130199863
    Abstract: A vocational truck vehicle has a vocational body mounted on a chassis rearward of a cab and overlying at least one rear axle. A fuel storage module for storing fuel for use by an alternative-fueled combustion engine which propels the vehicle has a frame holding at least one fuel storage vessel and attached to the vocational body to locate the fuel storage module in confronting relation to a rearward-facing wall of the vocational body.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 1, 2013
    Publication date: August 8, 2013
    Applicant: International Truck Intellectual Property Company, LLC
    Inventor: International Truck Intellectual Property Company, LLC
  • Patent number: 8490733
    Abstract: A seat rail constituting a rear portion of a vehicle frame, a rear cowl covering the seat rail, and a canister adsorbing a vaporized gas generated in a fuel tank disposed on a front portion of the vehicle frame are provided. As for the canister, a plurality of canisters are constituted to be connected in series. At least one of the canisters is disposed between one side of the seat rail and the rear cowl, and the other canister/canisters is/are disposed between the other side of the seat rail and the rear cowl.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2013
    Assignee: Suzuki Motor Corporation
    Inventor: Yoshiaki Kitta
  • Publication number: 20130153319
    Abstract: To enable the effective supply of fuel in a low remaining fuel condition, even in a saddle-ride vehicle with a requirement for an increased fuel tank capacity being provided within a limited amount of space. The saddle-ride vehicle includes an engine having a cylinder disposed on a crankcase; an intake system component disposed at the rear of the cylinder for sucking air into the engine; and a fuel tank disposed above the engine for storing fuel. The saddle-ride type vehicle includes a fuel suction port in a side bottom plate portion of the fuel tank for feeding fuel to the intake system component. The saddle-ride vehicle has a sub-chamber having a wall that surrounds the fuel suction port and the sub-chamber includes a fuel flow opening toward the vehicle rear.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 12, 2012
    Publication date: June 20, 2013
    Applicant: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventor: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
  • Patent number: 8464818
    Abstract: This invention provides a fuel system and a vehicle that can improve the ease of leak checking. The fuel system includes: a plurality of fuel storages; filling piping that connects the fuel storages to a filling port in parallel; and supply piping that connects the fuel storages to a fuel supply destination in parallel. An integral manifold is formed by integrating a filling manifold part disposed at a branching point of pipes of the filling piping and a supply manifold part disposed at a branching point of pipes of the supply piping with each other. The integral manifold has a leak checking port configured to allow introduction of a fluid for leak checking into the filling piping and the supply piping.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 18, 2013
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Chihiro Uchimura, Takehisa Tsubokawa
  • Patent number: 8448734
    Abstract: A canister mounting structure for a motorcycle includes an engagement member and a lock tab. The engagement member is provided to a canister. The lock tab protrudes from an upper surface of a rear fender supported by a rear portion of a vehicle body frame to cover a rear wheel. The lock tab is engaged with the engagement member so as to hold the canister on the rear fender.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2013
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Tetsuaki Maeda, Akira Komaki, Akiko Ishikawa, Kazuya Minowa, Hiroshi Kitamoto
  • Patent number: 8439145
    Abstract: A scooter-type vehicle can freely set a capacity of a fuel filter without being restricted by swing of a unit-swing type engine. A cross pipe is spanned between a pair of left and right lower frames and a lower end of a down frame is connected to a central portion of the cross pipe. A fuel filter is disposed so that its lower end is higher by distance than the lower end of cross pipe. The fuel filter is disposed between the down frame and the fuel tank. Since the fuel filter is disposed in front of the fuel tank, it is not restricted by the swing of an engine located rearward of the fuel tank. Therefore, a capacity of the fuel filter can freely be set.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2013
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd
    Inventors: Hiroshi Yamada, Mitsuru Terada, Tsubasa Ishii
  • Publication number: 20130105234
    Abstract: A vehicle fuel tank assembly is provided with a fuel tank and a fuel pump unit. The fuel tank is mounted on a saddle-riding type vehicle. The fuel tank has a flat shape elongated in the front-to-rear direction. The fuel pump unit includes a main body, a support body extending from the upper part of the main body in the longitudinal direction of the fuel tank, and a fuel level gauge supported and extending on the support body. The fuel level gauge includes a fuel level gauge body, a float arm pivotally supported by the gauge body, and a float on the free end of the float arm. The float arm extends in the longitudinal direction of the fuel tank and takes a highest swing position in an intermediate level of the height of the fuel tank. The fuel tank assembly enables fuel level detection in a wide range.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 19, 2011
    Publication date: May 2, 2013
    Applicant: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Shin Nishimura, Keita Kinoshita, Takashi Sunaga, Takaaki Shomura
  • Publication number: 20130105238
    Abstract: An apparatus includes a vehicle frame, a swing arm and a fuel tank. The vehicle frame includes a front portion and a rear portion and defines a longitudinal centerline therebetween. The front portion is configured to support a recumbent seat. The rear portion is configured to be coupled to the swing arm and. The swing arm defines a longitudinal centerline and includes a wheel mounting portion configured to be coupled to a wheel assembly. The wheel mounting portion defines a radial axis that is substantially coaxial with the longitudinal centerline of the vehicle frame in at least one plane. The fuel tank is coupled to the rear portion of the vehicle frame such that the fuel tank is above the longitudinal centerline of the swing arm.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 29, 2012
    Publication date: May 2, 2013
    Applicant: TANOM MOTORS, LLC
    Inventor: Tanom Motors, LLC