Heat shield for a motor vehicle
A heat shield for a motor vehicle includes an elongated planar shield body for separating an exhaust pipe and a fuel tank of the motor vehicle, the shield body extending longitudinally along a longitudinal axis between the exhaust pipe and the fuel tank, the shield body having a generally concave surface extending from the axis to first and second vertical walls along first and second edges of the shield body, a forward attachment portion for attaching the shield body to a frame of the motor vehicle longitudinally forward of the fuel tank, a rearward attachment portion for attaching the shield body to the frame of the motor vehicle longitudinally rearward of the fuel tank, and a water escape port in the first vertical wall.
1. A heat shield for a motor vehicle, comprising:
an elongated planar shield body for separating an exhaust pipe and a fuel tank of the motor vehicle, the shield body extending longitudinally along a longitudinal axis between the exhaust pipe and the fuel tank, the shield body having a generally concave surface extending from the axis to first and second vertical walls along first and second edges of the shield body;
a forward attachment portion for attaching the shield body to a frame of the motor vehicle longitudinally forward of the fuel tank;
a rearward attachment portion for attaching the shield body to the frame of the motor vehicle longitudinally rearward of the fuel tank; and
a water escape port in the first vertical wall.
2. The heat shield of claim 1 wherein the water escape port is proximal to the rearward attachment portion.
3. The heat shield of claim 2 wherein the shield body comprises:
a lateral bend;
wherein a forward portion of the shield body extends along an axis that intersects the longitudinal axis at the lateral bend; and
wherein a rearward portion of the shield body extends along the longitudinal axis.
4. The heat shield of claim 3 wherein the shield body further comprises:
a plurality of laterally extending support ribs longitudinally spaced about the axis.
5. A motor vehicle comprising:
a frame,
a fuel tank attached to the frame by at least one tank band;
an exhaust chamber attached to the frame;
an exhaust silencer attached to the frame;
an exhaust pipe extending between the exhaust chamber and the exhaust silencer;
a heat shield located between the exhaust pipe and the fuel tank, the heat shield further comprising:
an elongated planar shield body for separating an exhaust pipe and the fuel tank, the shield body extending longitudinally along a longitudinal axis between the exhaust pipe and the fuel tank, the shield body having a generally concave surface extending from the axis to first and second vertical walls along first and second edges of the shield body;
a forward attachment portion for attaching the shield body to the frame longitudinally forward of the fuel tank;
a rearward attachment portion for attaching the shield body to the frame longitudinally rearward of the fuel tank; and
a water escape port in the first vertical wall.
6. The heat shield of claim 5 wherein the water escape port is proximal to the rearward attachment portion.
7. The heat shield of claim 6 wherein the shield body comprises:
a lateral bend;
wherein a forward portion of the shield body extends along an axis that intersects the longitudinal axis at the lateral bend; and
wherein a rearward portion of the shield body extends along the longitudinal axis.
8. The heat shield of claim 7 wherein the shield body further comprises:
a plurality of laterally extending support ribs longitudinally spaced about the axis.