In-vehicle fuel tank device and utility vehicle
An in-vehicle fuel tank device includes a main tank including a top portion, a side portion, and a bottom portion; and a first opening and a second opening each disposed in the top portion and serving as a breather; a first pipe connected to the first opening; a second pipe connected to the second opening; a merge section at which the first pipe and the second pipe merge with each other; a merge pipe connected to the merge section; and a common cutoff valve on the merge pipe.
1 . An in-vehicle fuel tank device, comprising:
a main tank comprising a top portion, a side portion, a bottom portion, a main tank section, and a sub tank in a form of an upwardly open depression;
a first opening and a second opening each disposed in the top portion and serving as a breather;
a first pipe connected to the first opening;
a second pipe connected to the second opening;
a merge section at which the first pipe and the second pipe merge with each other;
a merge pipe connected to the merge section; and
a common cutoff valve on the merge pipe,
wherein the main tank section is defined by the top portion, at least a portion of the side portion, and at least a portion of the bottom portion,
wherein the sub tank is defined by the bottom portion, and
wherein a boundary area between the main tank section and the sub tank defines a curved barrier configured to inhibit fuel from flowing along the bottom portion from the sub tank into the main tank section,
wherein the boundary area further defines at least one flat portion disposed along the curved barrier, and
wherein the at least one flat portion connects the at least a portion of the bottom portion that defines the main tank section and the bottom portion that defines the sub tank section to facilitate fuel flow from the main tank section to the sub tank.
2 . The in-vehicle fuel tank device according to claim 1 , further comprising:
an adapter that allows the common cutoff valve to be independently attached to and detached from the merge pipe.
3 . The in-vehicle fuel tank device according to claim 1 , further comprising:
a canister connected to the merge pipe.
4 . The in-vehicle fuel tank device according to claim 1 , wherein:
the merge pipe has an end exposed to outside.
5 . The in-vehicle fuel tank device according to claim 1 , further comprising:
a fuel pump configured to supply fuel to an engine,
wherein the fuel pump has a suction port in the sub tank.
6 . A utility vehicle comprising an in-vehicle fuel tank device according to claim 1 .
7 . The in-vehicle fuel tank device according to claim 1 , wherein the at least one flat portion comprises a pair of flat portions disposed on opposing ends of the curved barrier of the boundary area.
8 . The in-vehicle fuel tank device according to claim 1 , wherein the bottom portion of the main tank comprises a first area and a second area,
wherein the main tank section is defined by the first area, and the sub tank is defined by the second area,
wherein the second area is depressed relative to the first area, and
wherein the at least one flat portion connects the first area to the second area.
9 . The in-vehicle fuel tank device according to claim 8 , wherein the first area comprises an at least partially inclined surface, and
wherein the flat portion connects the at least partially inclined surface to the second area.
10 . The in-vehicle fuel tank device according to claim 9 , wherein the at least one flat portion comprises a pair of flat portions disposed on opposing ends of the curved barrier of the boundary area.