JP2963052B2 - Saddle-type vehicle - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a straddle-type vehicle such as a four-wheeled vehicle, and more particularly to a structure of a straddle-type vehicle having a front fender covering a front portion of a vehicle body.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In general, a straddle-type vehicle has front wheels (steering wheels) mounted on the front left and right sides of a frame (body frame) via suspension devices (struts, etc.) and is provided at the center of the frame. The left and right rear wheels (drive wheels) are mounted on a swing arm swingably supported by a pivot shaft and suspended by a load-carrying cushion unit, and the steering shaft supported by the front of the frame is turned by a steering wheel. The front two wheels are steered by moving the vehicle, and the vehicle is driven by driving the front wheels or the rear wheels by an engine mounted at the center of the frame.

[0003] A fuel tank, a seat, a carrier and the like are mounted on the upper portion of the frame from the front. A driver straddles the seat, grasps the steering wheel, and places his feet on steps mounted on the left and right sides of the lower portion of the frame. Board. In addition, covers for covering the inside of the vehicle body and covering the front and rear wheels are also attached to the frame. A document that discloses this type of straddle-type vehicle is disclosed, for example, in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 1-223089.

The covers include a front fender that covers the front wheel portion, a tank cover that covers the fuel tank, a rear fender that covers the rear wheel portion, and side covers that cover left and right side portions of the frame. In these covers, adjacent covers are appropriately integrated or conversely subdivided in consideration of productivity and assemblability.

On the other hand, the frame of the straddle-type vehicle is usually formed of a welding assembly such as a pipe, and generally includes left and right main upper members, left and right main lower members, and left and right main upper members. A plurality of side members connecting the main lower members at predetermined positions in the front-rear direction, a plurality of cross members connecting the left and right main upper members and the left and right main lower members at a plurality of positions in the front-rear direction, and a left and right main upper The vehicle includes left and right seat rails extending rearward from the members, and left and right rear members extending obliquely from the middle of the rear side members toward the middle of the seat rails.

[0006] Fuel supply to an engine mounted in the central portion of the vehicle body (the central portion of the frame) mixes the outside air sucked through an intake duct and an air cleaner with fuel measured by a carburetor or a fuel injection valve. The air-fuel mixture is charged into the combustion chamber through an intake port and an intake valve.

On the other hand, in a saddle-ride type vehicle, the lower half of the vehicle body is often exposed to dust and muddy water during traveling compared to an automobile or the like because it is frequently used for running on uneven terrain. It has been practiced to arrange the air intake of the duct at the top of the vehicle body. As an example, an air intake of an engine intake duct is arranged in front of a handle shaft and behind a highest part of a front cover or a front fender.

Further, as another example, an outside air introduction pipe (intake duct) connected to an air cleaner is extended to the vicinity of a fuel tank in an upper part of a vehicle body, and outside air is taken in from between the fuel tank and the tank cover. Have been done. Documents showing a conventional example of such an intake device include, for example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 8-26.
No. 166 publication.

[0009]

However, in the former configuration in which the air intake port is disposed at the highest part of the front cover in front of the handle shaft, the position of the intake port of the intake duct is high, but viewed from the side. Since the position is behind the front wheel, the possibility of sucking in dust that is rolled up by the front wheel is considerably increased, and it is expensive even when introducing outside air to cool not only the engine intake but also the mounted parts Air cleaning means such as an air cleaner is required. On the other hand, in the latter configuration, in which the outside air introduction pipe extends to the vicinity of the fuel tank, air is taken in from the gap between the fuel tank and the tank cover that opens downward just above the engine, so that hot air and dust from the engine are sucked. May be.

The present invention has been made in view of such prior art, and an object of the present invention is to easily introduce clean outside air containing no dust and to increase a large volume without substantially changing the appearance of a vehicle. A saddle-ride type vehicle that secures a box-shaped space that can easily secure the vehicle and that can easily and sufficiently take in the outside air necessary for running the vehicle in a clean state and at room temperature. That is.

[0011]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a vehicle having a front fender for covering a front part of a vehicle body and a fuel tank mounted on an upper part of a vehicle body frame. A box-shaped space formed by using a lower surface of the front fender at a position above the front fender, the box-shaped space extends sufficiently forward from a front axle and a rear portion extends to near a front end of the fuel tank. A lower surface of the front fender, a bottom member having a front end behind the front end of the front fender but extending forward from the front axle and a rear end extending to near the front end of the fuel tank, and a rear end behind the front fender end; However, left and right side members formed so as to extend forward from the front axle and extend rearward to near the front end of the fuel tank are surrounded by By arranging the fuel tank at its front surface so as to substantially close the rear surface of the box-shaped space, the rear surface is substantially closed at the front surface of the fuel tank, so that the fuel tank opens forward in front of the front axle. On the other side, it is partitioned to be almost closed, and inside the box-shaped space,
A distal end opening of an intake duct for taking in engine intake is arranged.

According to the invention of claims 2 and 3, in addition to the configuration of claim 1, an engine intake duct, means for introducing cooling air to a V-belt type automatic transmission, and a drum brake are provided inside the box-shaped space. A configuration in which the air intake of the outside air introduction means of the breather or the breather of the differential gear is disposed, or the side members are attached to the left and right sides of the vehicle body in order to prevent mud and water from entering the inside of the vehicle body. The above object is achieved more efficiently by adopting a configuration in which the mud barrier is formed by a portion above the bottom member.

[0013]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. The same reference numerals indicate the same or corresponding parts throughout the drawings. FIG. 1 is a left side view of an embodiment of a straddle-type vehicle to which the present invention is applied, and FIG.
1 is a plan view of a saddle-ride type vehicle. 1 and 2,
Frame (body frame) 1 consisting of a pipe welded structure
The engine 11 is mounted in the center of the
Left and right front wheels (steering wheels) 12 and 12 are suspended on both sides of a front portion of the vehicle 10, and left and right rear wheels (normally driving wheels) 13 and 13 are suspended on a rear portion of the frame 10.

A vertically extending steering shaft 14 is supported at the front of the frame 10, and a bar handle 15 is fixed to the upper end of the steering shaft 14. A tie rod (not shown) leading to the front wheels 12, 12 is connected. The left and right front wheels 12 are independently suspended on both sides of the front portion of the frame 10.

The left and right rear wheels 13, 13 are suspended by a swing arm 16 and a load carrying cushion unit 17. In the illustrated example, the left and right front wheels 12, 1
2 is driven by the engine 11 via a transmission mechanism including a drive shaft 41. This transmission mechanism is connected to a differential gear (not shown) that drives the left and right front wheels 12, 12.

A front carrier 18, a fuel tank 19, a seat 20, and a rear carrier 21 are mounted on the upper portion of the frame 10 from the front, and footboards (steps) 22 are mounted on both lower sides of the frame 10. Also, covers made of molded products such as plastics, such as a front fender 23, a tank cover 24, a rear fender 25, and a side cover (not shown), are detachably attached to the frame 10. The driver straddles the seat 20, puts his or her feet on the footboard 22, and drives while gripping the bar handle 15 (specifically, the grip portion thereof).

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, a carburetor 27 is connected to an intake port of the engine 11 mounted at the center of the vehicle body, and an air cleaner 29 is connected to the carburetor 27 via an intake passage 28. I have. Further, a long intake duct 3 extending to the upper front part of the vehicle body is provided at the entrance of the air cleaner 29.
0 is connected. Tip opening 3 of this intake duct 30
Reference numeral 1 designates an air intake for engine intake.

Therefore, according to the present invention, in the saddle-ride type vehicle including the front fender 23 covering the front part of the vehicle body and the fuel tank 19 mounted on the upper part of the vehicle body frame 10 as described above, the left and right front wheels are provided. The lower surface 44 of the front fender 23 is located at an upper position between
Is used, a box-shaped space 43 that opens forward in front of the front axle 42 is formed, and a component (for example, the intake duct 30) that introduces outside air required when the vehicle travels is connected to the box-shaped space 43. It is configured to be.

FIG. 3 is a partial left side view showing the front upper portion of the vehicle body of the saddle-ride type vehicle shown in FIG. 1, FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 4-4 in FIG. 3, and FIG. FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 5-5 in FIG. In FIGS. 1 and 3 to 5, the box-shaped space 43 opening forward is provided with a lower surface 44 at an upper central portion of the front fender 23, side members 45 and 45 fixed to the left and right sides of the vehicle body, and the vehicle body. Fixed bottom member 4
6 and 47, and the rear surface of the box-shaped space 43 is substantially closed by the front surface 48 of the fuel tank 19.

In FIGS. 1 and 3 to 5, a mud plate 49 for preventing infiltration of mud and water, which are rolled up by the front wheels 12, into the vehicle body, is provided on the left and right sides of the front portion of the vehicle body frame 10. 49 are attached. 3 to 5, the front fender 23 has a fender mounting bracket 50 mounted on the vehicle body frame 10, and the left and right mudguard plates 49 are provided with fastening means (bolts) for the fender mounting bracket 50 to the frame 10. ) 51 is attached to the frame 10 together with the bracket 50 by using the joints 51.

In this embodiment, the bottom surface of the box-shaped space 43 is divided into two front and rear bottom members 46 and 47. However, this may be formed by a single bottom member. Further, in this embodiment, the side members 45, 45 of the box-shaped space 43 are constituted by portions above the bottom members 46, 47 of the left and right mudproof plates 49, 49 as shown in FIGS. However, these side members 45 may be formed as independent members. Further, it may be integrated with the front fender 23. The rear portion of the upper central portion of the front fender 23 and the rear portion of the side member (mud plate 49) extend to near the front end of the fuel tank 19, as shown in FIGS. Further, the rear end of the rear bottom member 47 extends to near the front end of the fuel tank 19 as shown in FIG. 3. Therefore, the rear surface of the box-shaped space 43 is substantially closed by the front end surface 48 of the fuel tank 19. ing.

1 and 3, the front fender 23 extends sufficiently forward of the front axle 42,
The bottom surface member (front bottom surface member) 46 and the left and right side surface members 45, 45 are behind the front end of the front fender 23, but extend forward from the axle 42 of the front wheels 12, 12. Therefore, the left and right side members 45, 45
The front end opening 52 of the box-shaped space 43 formed by the front end of
It is formed at a position before the front axle 42.

A box-shaped space 43 having a front end opening formed by using the lower surface 44 of the front fender 23 at an upper position between the left and right front wheels 12, 12 supplies outside air required when the vehicle travels such as engine intake. It is used as a space where the air intake of the outside air introduction means for introduction is arranged. That is, since the box-shaped space 43 is an upper front part of the vehicle body and is a space opened forward in front of the front axle, mud and dust rolled up by wheels rarely enter, and are always It forms a space where clean air exists.

Therefore, the structure in which the air intake of the outside air introduction means for introducing the outside air necessary for running the vehicle is arranged in the box-shaped space 43, that is, the engine intake duct 3
By connecting the outside air introduction means such as 0 to the box-shaped space 43, it becomes possible to take in clean air that does not contain foreign matter such as dust and mud. The parts for introducing the outside air include, in addition to the illustrated engine intake duct 30, cooling air introduction means for a V-belt type automatic transmission, a breather for a drum brake, a breather for a differential gear, and the like. In practice, at least one of these outside air introduction means is connected to the box-shaped space 43.

When connecting the engine intake duct 30 to the box-shaped space 43, it is preferable to connect the engine intake duct 30 in such a manner that the front end opening (air intake port) 31 of the intake duct 30 faces rearward as shown in FIG. . The reason is that even if rainwater (water droplets), muddy water splashed forward by the front wheels or dust or muddy water splashed by a vehicle traveling in front intrudes into the box-shaped space 43 from the front opening 52 during traveling, This is because intrusion from outside air introducing means such as the engine intake duct 30 of water drops, dust, and muddy water can be minimized.

According to the embodiment described above, the front fender 2 is located above the left and right front wheels 12 and 12.
3, a box-shaped space 43 that opens forward in front of the front axle 42 is formed by using the lower surface 44 of the front axle 42. Since it is configured to be connected to the space 43, a large volume of clean air space can be easily formed without substantially changing the appearance of the vehicle. Therefore, it is possible to easily introduce clean outside air containing no dust or the like. Therefore, it is possible to easily and sufficiently secure the clean and room temperature outside air required when the vehicle is running.

Further, in the box-shaped space 43, the air is clean, and since the air is partitioned above the vehicle body, the temperature is maintained at the outside air temperature without being affected by the heat of the engine. Electrical parts that dislike dust and high temperature atmosphere (regulators, igniters, ignition coils, etc.)
Is preferably mounted in the box-shaped space 43.

In the above-described embodiment, as shown in FIG. 1, a chamber portion 32 for changing the cross-sectional area of the flow path is formed in the middle of the intake duct 30, and the surface of the chamber portion 32 is provided on the surface of the vehicle. The outer surface at the time of mounting (the outer surface of the vehicle body) itself forms a part of the side surface of the vehicle body (the outer surface of the vehicle body). That is, with the intake duct 30 attached to the vehicle, the chamber section 3
The surface 2 forms an outer surface that is substantially continuous with the surfaces of the adjacent front fender 23, tank cover 24 and rear fender 25, and the chamber 32 itself is used as an external design member.

[0029]

As is apparent from the above description, according to the first aspect of the present invention, the front fender covering the front part of the vehicle body and the fuel tank mounted on the upper part of the vehicle body frame are provided. In a saddle-ride type vehicle in which a box-shaped space is formed at an upper position by using a lower surface of the front fender, the box-shaped space extends sufficiently forward from a front axle and a rear portion extends to near a front end of the fuel tank. A lower surface of the front fender, a bottom member having a front end behind the front end of the front fender but extending forward from the front axle and a rear end extending to near the front end of the fuel tank, and a rear end behind the front fender end; And left and right side members formed to extend forward from the front axle and to extend near the front end of the fuel tank, and By arranging the fuel tank so as to substantially close the rear surface of the box-shaped space at the front surface, the rear surface is substantially closed at the front surface of the fuel tank, so that the fuel tank is opened forward in front of the front axle. In the surface of the box is partitioned so as to be almost closed, inside the box-shaped space,
The front opening of the intake duct for taking in the engine intake is arranged, so the front fender's lower surface, left and right side members, the bottom member, and the front of the fuel tank open forward ahead of the front axle. On the other side, however, it has a box-shaped space for introducing outside air that is almost closed.Therefore, a space with sufficient volume is secured in the upper front of the vehicle body with almost no change in the appearance of the vehicle, and from the front of the front axle There is provided a straddle-type vehicle that can introduce a sufficient amount of clean outside air, and can sufficiently take in clean outside air that is free from dust and the like at normal temperature without being affected by engine heat.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in addition to the configuration of the first aspect, an engine intake duct, a means for introducing cooling air to a V-belt type automatic transmission, and a drum brake are provided inside the box-shaped space. Since the air intake of the external air introduction means of the breather or the breather of the differential gear is arranged, in addition to the above-mentioned effects, a large volume can be easily secured as a box-shaped space. Even if they are arranged collectively, mutual interference of intake air caused by pulsation of the air flow introduced into each part does not occur, and an accurate supply amount and a cooling air amount for each part are ensured and always appropriate. A saddle-ride type vehicle that can easily maintain a condition is provided.

According to the invention of claim 3, claim 1 or 2
In addition to the above configuration, the side member is formed by a portion above the bottom member of a mud plate attached to the left and right sides of the vehicle body in order to prevent intrusion of mud, water, etc. into the vehicle body. Therefore, a straddle-type vehicle that can achieve the above effects more efficiently is provided.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a left side view of an embodiment of a saddle-ride type vehicle to which the present invention is applied.

FIG. 2 is a plan view of the straddle-type vehicle shown in FIG.

FIG. 3 is a partial left side view showing an upper front part of the vehicle body of the saddle-ride type vehicle in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 4-4 in FIG.

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 5-5 in FIG.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Body frame 11 Engine 12 Front wheel 13 Rear wheel 15 Handle 19 Fuel tank 20 Seat 23 Front fender 24 Tank cover 25 Rear fender 27 Vaporizer 29 Air cleaner 30 Intake duct 31 Air intake 32 Chamber 42 Front axle 43 Box space 44 Lower surface of front fender 45 Side member 46 Bottom member 47 Bottom member 48 Front of fuel tank 49 Mud plate 52 Front opening of box-shaped space

Continuation of the front page (56) References JP-A-60-157917 (JP, A) JP-A-59-106787 (JP, U) JP-A-61-185694 (JP, U) JP-A-62-18289 (JP) , U) Actually open sho 64-25976 (JP, U) (58) Fields investigated (Int. Cl. ⁶ , DB name) B62K 5/00 B62J 15/00

Claims (3)

(57) [Claims] 1. A front fender covering a front part of a vehicle body and a fuel tank mounted on an upper part of a vehicle body frame, and a box-shaped space is provided at an upper position between left and right front wheels by utilizing a lower surface of the front fender. In the formed straddle-type vehicle, the box-shaped space extends sufficiently forward from the front axle and has a rear portion.
The front rail extending to near the front end of the fuel tank;
Bottom and front end of the front fender
Rearward but extending forward from the front axle and the rear end
A bottom member extending to near the front end of the fuel tank;
Behind the front fender tip, but on the front axle
Extending to the front and the rear is near the front end of the fuel tank.
Surrounded by left and right side members formed to extend with
And the fuel tank is positioned at the front thereof behind the box-shaped space.
By arranging the surface almost closed, the fuel tank
Close to the front axle,
Open forward, but almost closed on other sides
Partitioned into so that, inside the box-shaped space, a straddle-type vehicle, wherein the distal opening of the air intake duct for taking an engine intake air is disposed. 2. Inside the box-shaped space, there are provided an engine air intake duct, a means for introducing cooling air to a V-belt type automatic transmission, and an air intake for an outside air introducing means of a breather of a drum brake or a breather of a differential gear. The straddle-type vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the vehicle is disposed. 3. The vehicle according to claim 2, wherein the side member is provided inside a vehicle body such as mud or water.
Installed on the left and right sides of the vehicle to prevent intrusion
Formed by a portion of the mud plate above the bottom member
There straddle-type vehicle according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in Rukoto.