Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha

Nifco Inc.

Yoshiyasu Sakata

Takeaki Nakajima

Shigeru Kimura

Takahiro Kamei

Shinji Hinosawa

Mitsuo Sugiyama

Tokuji Takahashi

Yoshiji Terada

In a subframe assembly for a vehicle, a front portion of a fuel tank supported on a subframe overhangs forwardly from a front cross-member of the subframe to increase the volume of the fuel tank. In order to compensate the forward displacement of the position of the gravity center due to the overhanging of the fuel tank, an exhaust silencer is supported to overhang rearwardly from a rear cross-member of the subframe, and a rear differential supported by the subframe below a lower surface of the fuel tank is disposed in proximity to the rear cross-member inside the subframe. Thus, the position of the gravity center of the subframe assembly is maintained at a substantially central portion of the subframe.

Subframe assembly for vehicle

A fuel vapor discharge limiting device for limiting communication between a fuel tank and a fuel vapor discharge pipe for discharging a fuel vapor in the fuel tank. The fuel vapor discharge limiting device includes a first float valve for cutting off the communication between the fuel tank and the fuel vapor discharge pipe when a liquid level in the fuel tank rises near a predetermined full level; a relief valve for allowing the communication between the fuel tank and the fuel vapor discharge pipe when an internal pressure in the fuel tank becomes not less than a predetermined value; and a second float valve for blocking the communication allowed by the relief valve when the liquid level in the fuel tank abnormally rises over the predetermined full level. Accordingly, oversupply of liquid fuel to the fuel tank can be prevented, and the internal pressure in the fuel tank can be maintained always within a predetermined permissible range. Furthermore, discharge of the liquid fuel to the fuel vapor discharge pipe can be prevented.

Fuel vapor discharge limiting device for fuel tank

Disclosed is a valve for preventing fuel from flowing from the vent of an automobile fuel tank comprising a valve compartment and a float vertically movable in the valve compartment, said float having a longitudinal hole communicating with vent holes made in the ceiling of the flat body or in the seat of a head fixed to the ceiling of the float body, thereby allowing the vapor of the fuel to ascend through the longitudinal hole of the float body and fill the upper space defined by the inner surface of the valve compartment and the outer surface of the head of the float thus to maintain the same pressure in the upper space as in the fuel tank at all times. Thus, the float can descend immediately when the automobile returns from an inclined position to the horizontal position.

Valve for preventing fuel from flowing from the vent of an automobile

A ventilation device on a top wall of a fuel tank mounted on a motor vehicle includes an upper panel fixedly mounted on an inner surface of the top wall of the fuel tank and extending substantially horizontally, the upper panel having an opening vented to atmosphere. A middle panel is fixedly mounted on a lower surface of the upper panel, and a lower panel is fixedly mounted on a lower surface of the middle panel and has first and second openings communicating with an interior of the fuel tank. The lower and middle panels jointly define first and second passages, and the upper and middle panels jointly define a chamber. The first and second openings communicate with the first and second passages, respectively, and the middle panel has first and second through holes providing communication between the first and second passages and the chamber, the opening in the upper panel communicating with the chamber. The ventilation device is capable of effectively ventilating air and preventing fuel from leaking.

Growing community of inventors

Saitama, Japan

Yoshiyasu Sakata