CN109996950A

CN109996950A - evaporative emission control assembly

Info

Publication number: CN109996950A
Application number: CN201780072041.3A
Authority: CN
Inventors: R·巴布; R·瓦伊泽斯瓦兰; B·斯里达尔; V·苏巴马尼
Original assignee: TVS Motor Co Ltd
Current assignee: TVS Motor Co Ltd
Priority date: 2016-10-04
Filing date: 2017-10-03
Publication date: 2019-07-09
Anticipated expiration: 2037-10-03
Also published as: WO2018065892A1; CN109996950B

Abstract

The present invention relates to an evaporative emission control assembly for a two-wheeled vehicle. The evaporative emission control assembly (109) includes a receptacle (109c) disposed adjacent a fuel tank assembly (112), the fuel tank assembly (112) being disposed at a rear end of the vehicle (100). The evaporative emission control assembly (109) is disposed immediately adjacent the fuel tank assembly (112), rearward of the at least one rear suspension (116), and above a rear portion (113b) of the engine assembly (113). The location of the reservoir (109c) helps to improve adsorption of fuel vapor in the fuel hose (209) of the fuel tank assembly (112).

Description

Evaporative emission control assembly

Technical Field

The present invention generally relates to a two-wheeled vehicle. More particularly, the present invention relates to an evaporative emission control assembly for a two-wheeled vehicle.

Background

Generally, in a two-wheeled vehicle, an intake apparatus supplies a filtered air and fuel mixture to an internal combustion engine for operation. The fuel stored in the fuel tank assembly and fuel supply lines of a two-wheeled vehicle will slowly evaporate over time, releasing volatile fuel vapors into the air, which escapes to the atmosphere. Thus, evaporative emissions control systems are used to prevent fuel vapors present in the fuel tank assembly and fuel supply lines from escaping into the air. In addition, these fuel vapors are used for combustion in internal combustion engines. These systems are designed to store and utilize fuel vapors before they escape into the atmosphere. The main unit of the evaporative emissions control system is an evaporative fuel storage container, such as a canister unit, which is used to store fuel vapors by adsorbing them. The stored fuel vapor is then supplied to the internal combustion engine during engine operation.

Drawings

The detailed description is explained with reference to the drawings. The same reference numbers are used throughout the drawings to reference like features and components.

Fig. 1 shows a left side view of a two-wheeled vehicle employing an embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 2 shows a two-wheeled vehicle according to a second embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 3 illustrates a top perspective view of a vehicle frame assembly employing an evaporative emission control canister at a rear end of the vehicle.

FIG. 4 illustrates a side view of a vehicle frame assembly and evaporative emission control canister attached to the frame.

Figure 5 shows a perspective side view of a frame assembly incorporating the present invention.

FIG. 6 illustrates a perspective view of the arrangement of the evaporative emissions control canister relative to the fuel tank assembly.

Fig. 7 shows an exploded view of the fuel tank assembly.

Detailed Description

Various features and embodiments of the invention will become apparent from the following further description, which begins herein. In the following exemplary embodiment, the vehicle is a two-wheeled vehicle. However, it is contemplated that the present disclosure may be applied to any vehicle that can accommodate the present subject matter without detracting from the spirit of the invention. A detailed description of the configuration of the parts other than the present invention constituting essential parts is omitted where appropriate.

Fuel evaporation in the fuel tank assembly and the fuel supply line is a normal phenomenon in two-wheeled vehicles. Packaging and layout design of evaporative emission control systems is a very important aspect of two-wheeled vehicle design, as it plays a crucial role in reducing evaporative emissions of fuel, in order to make better use of the fuel and to improve thermal efficiency. The location of the evaporative fuel storage container is a very important factor in the operation, design and operation of the evaporative emission control assembly. Various customer requirements complicate vehicle layouts with numerous systems. Therefore, it becomes very challenging to package the various components of the evaporative emission control assembly in a two-wheeled vehicle.

The evaporation of fuel in the fuel tank assembly and fuel supply lines is caused by temperature increases due to various factors, such as external temperatures that may heat the fuel tank assembly and fuel supply system, hot engine and exhaust systems that can heat the fuel tank assembly and fuel supply system, heat from the internal combustion engine even for a period of time after the engine is shut down, and exposed fuel tank assemblies that force fuel vapors out through incoming liquid fuel during refueling.

A major problem in two-wheeled vehicles is space limitations which force the fuel tank assembly and supply lines to be arranged close to the region of the vehicle with high temperatures. Such arrangements include a tool box that the rider uses to place the helmet and any other luggage to meet the rider's requirements. Conventional two-wheeled vehicles having a toolbox beneath the seat assembly are limited in space because the fuel tank assembly is positioned adjacent to the area surrounding the engine assembly, raising the temperature of that area. Additionally, in other two-wheeled vehicles, the fuel tank assembly may be positioned toward the front of the vehicle, so the direct fuel tank is exposed to the atmosphere, such that the internal fuel is heated. Generally, for optimal operation and durability of the evaporative emission control assembly, it is desirable to have a shorter length of hose connected to and from the container. The longer hose causes the steam to condense and the effective adsorption of the canister to be lost. For stable operation, it is desirable to have minimal physical vibration and oscillations transmitted from the rear suspension to the tank and its respective mounting. Furthermore, the volume and size of the canister is determined by the size of the fuel tank assembly and other factors such as the nearby thermal load, the allowable emissions level, the available space for the canister in the vehicle. Therefore, the packaging and installation of the tank becomes a critical requirement in vehicles, especially in two-wheeled vehicles.

In the known related art, a tank arrangement structure for a saddle-ride type vehicle includes a tank provided at a rear portion of a vehicle body. The canister arrangement herein includes a buffer unit, one end of which is coupled to the seat rail and the other end of which is coupled to the swing arm, and a canister for recovering vaporized fuel is provided at a rear end of the buffer unit at a length along a longitudinal direction of the buffer unit. However, the prior art has a disadvantage in that the can is not sufficiently protected from external impact and environmental factors. The canister herein is not covered by any covering member in the motorcycle. Therefore, the tank is directly exposed to external impact, and is also exposed to severe environmental factors. Furthermore, since the canisters herein are placed in close proximity to the seat rails, dedicated space for the canisters must be provided in the vehicle. Furthermore, the canister is mounted remotely from the engine assembly and the fuel tank assembly, which would undesirably lengthen the hose connecting between the canister and the fuel tank assembly and the engine assembly. Furthermore, the canister is located in close proximity to the seat assembly, which is not easily accessible for maintenance whenever any of the hoses disposed therein must be replaced or otherwise require maintenance. Further, the canister herein is mounted at the rear and along the length of the buffer unit. The oscillations that occur in the damping unit due to the bumps on the road are directly transmitted to the entire length of the tank. This can lead to instability in the installation and operation of the tank. Further, the cleaning pipe and the charging pipe are arranged to extend upward from the tank and to pass between the coupling portion of the buffer unit and the hood mounting portion. However, the end fitting of the purge tube and the charging tube at the can end are exposed to the environment. Furthermore, the purge tube and the charging tube in this particular arrangement take a curved path above the coupling portion of the buffer unit, which is undesirable because fuel vapor may not be able to pass easily from the canister to the carburetor.

Furthermore, the tank is located directly adjacent to the rear wheels, which will increase the splattering of mud, dust and other particulate matter onto the tank. This requires frequent replacement or repair of the tank.

Therefore, there is a need to provide a location of the tank in the vehicle such that the tank is adequately placed in a safe location and can be protected from any external impact and environmental factors to save space in the vehicle, and to minimize thermal loads and hose lengths, which do not take up much space in the vehicle. Further, it is also possible to provide an easier path for hoses connecting between the fuel tank assembly and the canister, and hoses connecting the canister with a carburetor/Electronic Fuel Injection (EFI), to enable fuel vapors to pass through more easily and quickly, and thus be more easily adsorbed by the canister.

Typically, evaporative emission control assemblies include an evaporative fuel storage container, such as a canister unit filled with charcoal, to adsorb fuel vapors on its surface. Other components include valves, hoses, and ports. As fuel evaporates within the fuel tank assembly, fuel vapors are transferred to the canister unit. The fuel vapors are adsorbed by the charcoal and stored there until they can be safely transferred back to the engine assembly to be combusted with the normal air-fuel mixture.

The vaporized fuel storage container is connected at one end to the engine assembly air intake and at the other end is exposed to the atmosphere. The container also includes a vent port and an air intake port to communicate between the fuel tank assembly and the container. When the engine assembly is operating, suction is created at its air intake, which causes a vacuum to be created by the pressure differential on either side of the evaporated fuel storage container, which draws in fresh air that mixes with the fuel vapor adsorbed on the charcoal surface and flows into the engine assembly. These systems may be mechanically controlled or may also be automated.

The location of the evaporative fuel storage container is a very important aspect of the evaporative emission control assembly designed for two-wheeled vehicles. Two-wheeled vehicles are always subject to space limitations and lack storage space to accommodate additional features and systems inside. In addition, if the tank unit is exposed to external environmental factors, the durability of the tank unit may be reduced. Therefore, considering the design of two-wheeled vehicles, one of the most critical design factors is the location of the evaporative fuel storage container of the evaporative emission control assembly.

Conventionally, in a two-wheeled vehicle, evaporative fuel storage containers are provided at various positions below the seats of the two-wheeled vehicle. These locations include a main tube disposed proximate to the fuel tank assembly, disposed proximate to the tool box, disposed proximate to the vehicle, and a side tube disposed proximate to the vehicle. However, these locations mainly have the disadvantage of occupying space in the two-wheeled vehicle and thus causing space limitations. In addition, the evaporative fuel storage containers may be exposed to harsh external environmental factors, which may result in reduced durability due to mud, dust, and water ingress. Furthermore, positioning the container under the seat assembly, adjacent to the tool box, can result in compromising the useful storage space available to the user. The presence of the reservoir in close proximity to the fuel tank assembly can result in the volume of the fuel tank assembly being compromised in a straddle-type vehicle and, in addition, result in an inconvenient use of the scooter-type vehicle. In motorcycles, the container closer to the engine assembly is more prone to be exposed to engine heat loads and external environmental factors such as mud, dust, etc. In scooter-type vehicles, moreover, mounting the container on the main tube in a motorcycle to bring the container closer to the fuel tank assembly can result in an extra length of hose, which is detrimental to the performance of the evaporative emission control assembly.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to locate the evaporated fuel storage container adjacent a pair of rear frames and surrounded by surrounding vehicle components. Such a position will optimize packaging without affecting the storage space inside the two-wheeled vehicle and protect it from harsh environmental factors.

By the proposed design, advantages can be obtained such as optimizing the packaging of the evaporative fuel storage vessel and providing it with good storage space, protecting the evaporative fuel storage vessel from harsh environmental factors (such as dust, mud and water ingress), reducing maintenance time, providing easy access to the evaporative fuel storage vessel and all hoses and valves, optimizing hose length, minimizing vibration and oscillation transfer from the rear suspension to the vessel of the evaporative emission control assembly and its mounting, minimizing heat loads, preventing usage space losses in the vehicle, and also taking into account volume increases in the fuel tank assembly, and can be operated with or without the use of purge valves. Such assemblies are also suitable for all applications in which engine assemblies are used, including straddle motorcycles, scooter motorcycles, and three-wheeled vehicles.

According to an embodiment of the invention, the evaporative emission control container is located at the rearmost part of the vehicle. The specific container is mounted on any one of a pair of rear frames of the vehicle. The rearmost portion of the pair of rear frames of the vehicle frame assembly is the most rigid portion and is surrounded by rigidly attached members. The rigidly attached members receive minimal vibration from the vehicle and, therefore, the rearmost portions of the pair of rear frames are also not subjected to any vibration or oscillation. Therefore, the container is not subjected to any excessive abnormal vibration or oscillation. The evaporative emission control container so packaged is located substantially outside of the rear frame section so that all four hoses connected to the canister are easily assembled and disassembled. The evaporative emissions control canister (hereinafter referred to as the canister) and the rollover valve are positioned closer to the fuel tank assembly to maintain a minimum length of the hose connecting the rollover valve to the fuel tank assembly and the hose connecting the rollover valve to the canister. Furthermore, the arrangement of the container according to embodiments prevents condensation of the fuel in the hose.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, the container is disposed below at least one of the pair of rear frames, which includes an RH rear frame and an LH rear frame and is located substantially at the rear of the vehicle. The pair of rear frames protects the container from the top side, and in this arrangement, the rear surface of the container is protected by the tail lamp, the rear fender protects the container from the bottom side, and the shock absorber protects the container from the front side. The container is arranged behind the damper but at a distance from the damper and the engine assembly mount, so that oscillations occurring due to excitation of the engine assembly or movement of the damper are minimally transmitted to the container remote from the vibration source. Thus, stable installation and operation of the evaporative emission control assembly is achieved.

Further, according to an embodiment of the invention, the container is substantially close to a fuel tank assembly provided at a rear end of the vehicle. The container is mounted to a rear end of at least one of the pair of rear frames. The location of the container helps to improve the adsorption of fuel vapors.

Further, the roll-over valve is disposed on a top surface of a fuel tank assembly disposed behind the seat lock. Further, the container is packaged to allow easy servicing without dismantling the tool box and fuel tank assembly.

According to an embodiment, the position of the container protects the container from any external impact occurring during an accident and prevents any foreign particles from entering the container.

Furthermore, according to another embodiment, the container is arranged in a substantially vertical plane with respect to the vehicle longitudinal plane; the container is disposed over the rear wheel, which is disposed at the rear end of the engine assembly. The container is mounted to a rear end of at least one of the pair of rear frames. The container referred to in the present invention is a can. Because the container of the present invention is surrounded by many other vehicle components and is located remotely from the engine assembly and the rear suspension assembly, oscillations received by the rear suspension assembly are not readily transmitted to the container of the evaporative emission control assembly. Thus, a more stable mounting and a stable and reliable operation of the evaporative emission control assembly is achieved.

According to an embodiment of the invention, the container is arranged in the vehicle to obtain an optimal distance between the fuel tank assembly and the container, and between the container and the carburetor. The optimal hose length ratio from the fuel tank assembly to the canister, and from the canister to the carburetor is in the range of approximately 1.03. The hose connecting the fuel tank assembly and the container is shorter and can more easily and quickly adsorb fuel vapor through the container. Furthermore, the container is located above the carburetor; this helps to more easily transfer fuel vapors from the container to the carburetor.

The invention, as well as all of the attendant embodiments and other advantages, will be described in detail in the following paragraphs with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Fig. 1 shows a two-wheeled vehicle according to an embodiment of the invention. The vehicle 100 includes a vehicle frame assembly 200, the vehicle frame assembly 200 generally providing a generally open central area D to allow a rider to ride across the central area D. Generally, the vehicle frame assembly 200 includes a head pipe 102, a main pipe 103, a pair of rear frames 104 (only one shown), and means for connecting the head pipe 102 and the pair of rear frames 104. One end of the main pipe 103 extends downward and rearward and is connected with a pair of rear frames 104, while at the other end thereof there is a head pipe 102, the head pipe 102 being configured to rotatably support a steering shaft 105 and further connected at a lower end to a front suspension assembly 106. A handlebar support member (not shown) is connected to an upper end of the steering shaft 105 and supports a handlebar assembly 107. Front suspension assemblies 106 (only one shown) are attached to brackets (not shown) on the lower portion of the steering shaft 105, and front wheels 108 are supported on the steering shaft 105. A front fender (not shown) mounted to a lower portion of the steering shaft 105 covers an upper portion of the front wheel 108. The pair of rear frames 104 includes downward frame portions 110 inclined downward, and the frame portions 110 are connected at one end to the main pipe 103 and extend rearward at the other end in a substantially horizontal direction. A plurality of cross tubes (not shown) are secured between the pair of side tubes 104 to support vehicle accessories including a tool box 111, a seat assembly (not shown) and a fuel tank assembly 112.

A seat assembly as a load-bearing member is supported on a pair of rear frames 104. Generally, the tool box 111 is supported between front portions of left and right ends of the pair of rear frames 104 to be disposed under a seat assembly (not shown). The fuel tank module 112 is provided on the vehicle frame module 200 between the rear of the left and right ends of the rear frame 104, and above the air cleaner module 101 and the engine module 113. Front brakes 114 and rear brakes (not shown) are disposed on the front wheels 108 and the rear wheels 115, respectively.

The rear wheels 115 are supported by the engine assembly 113 toward the rear side of the vehicle frame assembly 200, and the engine assembly 113 is horizontally swingably coupled to the rear of the vehicle frame assembly 200 of the vehicle 100 through at least one rear suspension 116. Generally, an engine assembly includes a cylinder head assembly, a cylinder block, and a crankcase. The air cleaner assembly 101 is located immediately adjacent to and above a cylinder head assembly of the engine assembly 113. The evaporative emission control assembly 109 is disposed adjacent to the fuel tank assembly 112.

In accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, evaporative emission control assembly 109 is disposed behind at least one rear suspension 116 and below a pair of rear frames 104, rear frames 104 including RH rear frame 104b and LH rear frame 104a (not shown). According to an embodiment, evaporative emission control assembly 109 is disposed on the left side of vehicle 100, behind at least one rear suspension 116 and below LH rear frame 104 a. At least one rear suspension 116 disposed on the left side of the vehicle 100 protects the evaporative emission control assembly 109 from the front side. The fuel tank assembly 112 protects one side of the container 109c, and the other side of the container 109c is completely protected by a side panel (not shown) covering the rear side of the vehicle 100. The reservoir 109c is disposed over the rear end 113b of the motor assembly 113 and over the rear wheels 115.

Fig. 2 shows a two-wheeled vehicle according to a second embodiment of the invention. The evaporative emission control assembly 109 including the reservoir 109c is disposed in a cross-plane area SWO enclosed between two cross-planes including a rear suspension plane RW passing through the length of the rear suspension and the axle of the rear wheel 115 and a bracket plane PS passing through the mounting portion of the bracket element 213 and the top mounting portion of the at least one rear suspension 116 of the two-wheeled vehicle 100.

FIG. 3 illustrates a top perspective view of a vehicle frame assembly employing an evaporative emission control assembly at a rear end of the vehicle. An evaporative emission control assembly 109 comprising a canister unit is disposed adjacent the fuel tank assembly 112. Because, the fuel tank assembly 112 in the vehicle is located at the rear end of the vehicle 100; an evaporative emission control assembly 109 is also provided substantially at the rear end. The location of the receptacle 109c of the proposed evaporative emission control assembly 109 facilitates easy collection of fuel vapors from the fuel tank assembly 112 through the receptacle 109 c. Thus, the hose connecting the fuel tank assembly 112 to the container 109a is shortened. In addition, another hose from the container 109a is connected to the carburetor 202. The optimal hose length ratio between the fuel tank assembly 112 and the container 109c, and between the container 109c and the carburetor is approximately in the range of 1 to 2, but a preferred ratio is 1.03.

FIG. 4 illustrates a side view of a vehicle frame assembly and an evaporative emission control assembly attached to the vehicle frame assembly. According to an embodiment of the invention, the evaporative emission control assembly 109 is disposed along a vertical plane ab that is at an angle to the vehicle longitudinal plane LP. For example, in an embodiment, the container plane ab is perpendicular to the vehicle longitudinal plane LP. The mounting of the container to the rearmost portions of the pair of rear frames 104, which are almost horizontal, and the mounting of the container 109c perpendicular to the rearmost portions of the pair of rear frames 104 provides the advantage of having a more robust mounting which ensures stable operation of the evaporative emission control assembly 109. For the advantage of easier installation, it is more desirable that the container 109c be installed perpendicular to the pair of rear frames 104 rather than at an angle.

A hose 201 connected to the container 109c and the purge valve 206 is arranged along the LH rear frame 104 a. Hose 201 is placed along LH rear frame 104a and guided by LH rear frame 104 a. The maintainability of the evaporative emission control assembly 109 is relatively easy according to the proposed invention. The container 109c is easily accessible and may be removed by accessing a mount that attaches the evaporative emission control assembly 109 at a desired location. Furthermore, there is no need to remove or dismantle any other vehicle components to access the container 109c other than the side panels.

Figure 5 shows a perspective side view of a frame assembly incorporating the present invention. According to an embodiment of the present invention, purge valve 206 is disposed adjacent to any one of a pair of rear frames 104, and above engine assembly 113 (not shown), rear frame 104 including RH rear frame 104b and LH rear frame 104 a. The particular arrangement of the purge valve 206 as disclosed in the present invention makes the serviceability of the purge valve 206 relatively easier. Further, the hose 201 is packaged in such a manner that the RH rear frame 104b and the LH rear frame 104a support the hose 201. Thus, free suspension of the hose 201 is prevented and the hose 201 is prevented from interfering with surrounding vehicle components. Thus, according to embodiments of the present invention, a more secure packaging of the container 109c is provided.

FIG. 6 illustrates a perspective view of the arrangement of the evaporative emissions control canister relative to the fuel tank assembly. The roll-over valve 207 is provided on the fuel tank top surface 112tp of the fuel tank assembly 112. The fuel vapor is readily transported from the higher gradient of the top surface to the lower gradient in which the vessel 109c is located. Thus, a more efficient function of the evaporative emission control assembly is achieved by the proposed invention.

Fig. 7 shows an exploded view of the fuel tank assembly. The evaporative emission control assembly 109 is mounted to at least one frame (104a, 104 b-not shown in the figures) of a pair of rear frames 104 (not shown) by a connecting member 109 b. The receptacle 109c is held by a sleeve member 109a, which sleeve member 109a is capable of mounting the receptacle 109c to the connecting member 109 b. A first hose 208 communicates between the fuel tank assembly 112 and the reservoir 109c through the rollover valve 207. With the rollover valve integrated within the fuel tank assembly 112, the hose 208 would communicate directly with the fuel tank assembly 112. A fuel hose 209 communicates between the fuel tank assembly 112 and an engine assembly (not shown). Further, the hose 201 is connected from the container 109c to the purge valve 206, and the purge valve 206 is held by the sheath member 206a and mounted to the bracket 206 b.

The evaporative emission control assembly 109 according to the proposed invention is mounted in a safe and reliable location surrounded by various vehicle components. This location also facilitates optimizing various hose lengths connected to various ports of the container and other vehicle components.

According to an embodiment of the invention, the evaporative emission control assembly 109 includes a canister 109c, the canister 109c including a canister unit capable of adsorbing fuel vapors.

Although the present subject matter has been described in considerable detail with reference to certain embodiments thereof, other embodiments are possible. It should be understood that aspects of the embodiments are not necessarily limited to the features described herein.

Claims

1. A vehicle (100), the vehicle (100) comprising:

a vehicle frame assembly (200) including a pair of rear frames (104) extending rearward and upward from a main pipe (103), the main pipe (103) extending rearward and downward from a head pipe (102) provided at a front portion of the vehicle (100); and

an evaporative emission control assembly (109) including a container (109a), a purge valve (206), and a roll-over valve (207), the evaporative emission control assembly (109) coupled to a fuel tank assembly (112) disposed between the pair of rear frames (104),

wherein,

the evaporative emission control assembly (109) is disposed in a cross-plane area (SWO) along a vertical plane (ab) that is at an angle to a vehicle Longitudinal Plane (LP), and the evaporative emission control assembly (109) is mounted to a rear end of the at least one rear frame (104a, 104b) of the pair of rear frames (104).

2. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein the vehicle (100) includes at least one rear suspension (116), one end of the at least one rear suspension (116) being mounted to at least one rear frame (104a, 104b) of the pair of rear frames (104), and the other end of the at least one rear suspension (116) being coupled to a rear wheel (115).

3. The vehicle (100) of claim 1, wherein the evaporative emission control assembly (109) is disposed adjacent the fuel tank assembly (112), behind the at least one rear suspension (116), above a rear end (113b) of an engine assembly (113) and a container (109c), and the container (109c) is disposed in the vertical plane (ab) perpendicular to the vehicle Longitudinal Plane (LP).

4. The vehicle (100) of claim 1, wherein the roll-over valve (207) is disposed on a fuel tank assembly top surface (112tp) of the fuel tank assembly (112), and the purge valve (206) is disposed above the at least one of the pair of rear frames (104a, 104 b).

5. The vehicle (100) of claim 1, wherein the evaporative emission control assembly (109) and the purge valve (206) are connected by a hose (201) disposed along either of the LH rear frame (104a) and the RH rear frame (104b) of the pair of rear frames (104).

6. The vehicle (100) of claim 1, wherein the evaporative emissions control assembly (109) includes a first hose (208), the first hose (208) being communicable between the fuel tank assembly (112) and the container (109c) through the rollover valve (207).

7. The vehicle (100) of claim 1, wherein the container (109c) is retained by a sleeve member (109a) that is capable of mounting the container (109c) to the connecting member (109b), the connecting member (109b) being mounted to the at least one rear frame (104a, 104b) of the pair of rear frames (104).

8. The vehicle (100) of claim 1, wherein the purge valve (206) is retained by a sheath member (206a) mounted to a bracket (206 b).

9. The vehicle (100) according to claim 6, wherein the hose (201) is located above either one of the LH rear frame (104a) and the RH rear frame (104b) of the pair of rear frames (104).

10. The vehicle (100) of claim 5 or 6, wherein the first hose (208) and the hose (201) have a length ratio approximately in the range of 1 to 2.