JP7581997B2 - Saddle-type vehicle - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a saddle-type vehicle in which a fork guard that protects the front fork is provided on the front fender.

Vehicles are equipped with a front suspension that supports the front wheel and absorbs shocks received by the front wheel from the road surface. In saddle-type vehicles, a front fork is generally used as this front suspension.

Some saddle-type vehicles are equipped with a fork guard to protect the front fork. The fork guard covers part of the front fork from the front and acts as a protective wall to prevent flying stones and the like from hitting the front fork.

For example, a telescopic front fork has a pair of fork tubes, each of which has an outer tube and an inner tube. One end of the inner tube is inserted into the outer tube. Oil or the like is sealed inside each fork tube. Each fork tube has an oil damper structure, and uses the resistance of the oil that occurs when the inner tube expands and contracts relative to the outer tube to dampen vibrations. In a telescopic front fork having such a structure, for example, if a flying stone or the like strikes the part of the inner tube that enters and exits the outer tube and scratches that part, the oil seal provided between the outer tube and the inner tube may be damaged by the scratch on the inner tube when the inner tube expands and contracts relative to the outer tube, causing a malfunction such as oil leaking from the fork tube to the outside. By providing a fork guard on a saddle-type vehicle or a front fork and covering the part of the inner tube that enters and exits the outer tube from the front with the fork guard, it is possible to prevent that part of the inner tube from being damaged by the impact of a flying stone or the like, and to prevent malfunctions such as oil leakage from the fork tube.

The following Patent Document 1 describes a motorcycle that has a fork protector on the front fender to prevent damage to the inner tube of the front fork.

JP 2009-214627 A

As described above, the fork guard can protect the front fork from collisions with flying stones and the like. However, providing the fork guard makes it harder for the wind to hit the heat exchanger (e.g., radiator or oil cooler), engine, exhaust pipe, etc., provided on the saddle-type vehicle, which causes a problem of reduced cooling effect of the wind on the heat exchanger, engine, exhaust pipe, etc.

Specifically, in a saddle-type vehicle, the front fork is disposed in front of the heat exchanger, engine, exhaust pipe, etc. Also, the fork guard is disposed in front of the front fork. Therefore, when the saddle-type vehicle is traveling, the traveling wind blowing from the front of the saddle-type vehicle hits the fork guard. When the traveling wind hits the fork guard, the traveling wind is diffused and its direction is changed, and the traveling wind may flow in a direction different from the heat exchanger, engine, exhaust pipe, etc. As a result, the amount of traveling wind hitting the heat exchanger, engine, exhaust pipe, etc. may decrease. Also, when the traveling wind hits the fork guard, air vortexes or turbulence may occur around the fork guard. As a result, the flow speed of the traveling wind hitting the heat exchanger, engine, exhaust pipe, etc. may decrease. The amount of traveling wind hitting the heat exchanger, engine, exhaust pipe, etc. decreases, or the flow speed decreases, so the cooling effect of the traveling wind on the heat exchanger, engine, exhaust pipe, etc. decreases.

The present invention has been made in consideration of the problems described above, and the object of the present invention is to provide a saddle-type vehicle that is equipped with a fork guard to protect the front fork, while allowing the wind to easily reach the heat exchanger, engine, exhaust pipe, etc.

In order to solve the above problems, the saddle-type vehicle of the present invention is a saddle-type vehicle including a body frame, a front fork having a pair of fork tubes connected to a steering shaft rotatably supported on the front part of the body frame, a front wheel provided between lower end portions of the pair of fork tubes, and a front fender provided between the pair of fork tubes and covering at least an upper part of the front wheel, and the front fender is provided with a pair of fork guards that are respectively positioned in front of the pair of fork tubes and cover parts of the pair of fork tubes in order to protect the pair of fork tubes, each of the fork guards overhanging outward in the left-right direction from the front fender, an upper portion of each of the fork guards overhanging the front fender, and a first outer surface, a second outer surface, and a third outer surface. The fork guard has an outer surface, a third outer surface, and a fourth outer surface, and the first outer surface extends rearward from a generally left-right center position of the front of the upper part of each fork guard while slanting outward in the left-right direction, the second outer surface extends rearward from the rear end of the first outer surface without slanting in the left-right direction, or extends rearward from the rear end of the first outer surface while slanting outward in the left-right direction to a degree smaller than the degree of slanting of the first outer surface in the left-right direction, the third outer surface extends rearward from a generally left-right center position of the front of the upper part of each fork guard while slanting inward in the left-right direction, and the fourth outer surface extends rearward from the rear end of the third outer surface without slanting in the left-right direction, or extends rearward from the rear end of the third outer surface while slanting inward in the left-right direction to a degree smaller than the degree of slanting of the third outer surface in the left-right direction.

According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a fork guard that protects the front fork, while allowing the wind to easily reach the heat exchanger, engine, exhaust pipe, etc.

1 is an explanatory diagram showing a saddle-ride type vehicle according to an embodiment of the present invention; 2 is a cross-sectional view showing a cross section of the saddle-type vehicle according to the embodiment of the present invention taken along a horizontal plane P in FIG. 1 as viewed from above. 1 is an external perspective view showing a front fender and a fork guard according to an embodiment of the present invention. 4 is an external view showing the front fender and the fork guard in FIG. 3 as viewed from the front. FIG. 4 is an external view showing the front fender and the fork guard in FIG. 3 as viewed from above. FIG. 4 is an external view showing the front fender and the fork guard in FIG. 3 as viewed from the left. FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view showing a cross section of the front fender taken along a plane Q in FIG. 5 as viewed from below in FIG. 5 . 2 is a cross-sectional view showing a cross section of a fork tube and a fork guard in an embodiment of the present invention taken along a horizontal plane P in FIG. 1 as viewed from above. FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram showing the cross-sectional shape of the fork guard and the flow of wind when traveling in the embodiment of the present invention, taken along a horizontal plane P in FIG. 1 . FIG.

The saddle-type vehicle according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a body frame, a front fork having a pair of fork tubes connected to a steering shaft rotatably supported at the front of the body frame, a front wheel provided between the lower end portions of the pair of fork tubes, and a front fender provided between the pair of fork tubes and covering at least the upper portion of the front wheel.

The front fender is provided with a pair of fork guards that are positioned in front of the pair of fork tubes and cover a portion of each of the pair of fork tubes to protect them. Each fork guard protrudes outward in the left-right direction from the front fender, and the upper portion of each fork guard protrudes above the front fender.

In addition, the upper part of each fork guard has at least four outer surfaces. The first outer surface extends rearward from approximately the middle position in the left-right direction of the front part of the upper part of each fork guard while slanting outward in the left-right direction.

The second outer surface extends rearward from the rear end of the first outer surface without inclining in the left-right direction. The second outer surface may extend rearward from the rear end of the first outer surface outward in the left-right direction while inclining to a degree that is smaller than the degree of inclination of the first outer surface in the left-right direction.

The third outer surface extends rearward from approximately the center position in the left-right direction of the front part of the upper part of each fork guard while slanting inward in the left-right direction.

The fourth outer surface extends rearward from the rear end of the third outer surface without inclining in the left-right direction. The fourth outer surface may extend rearward from the rear end of the third outer surface while inclining inward in the left-right direction to a degree that is smaller than the degree of inclination of the third outer surface in the left-right direction.

In this embodiment, the first and third outer surfaces of the upper part of each fork guard extend rearward from approximately the middle of the front part of the upper part of the fork guard in the left-right direction, while sloping outward and inward in the left-right direction, respectively. The first and third outer surfaces intersect with each other at approximately the middle of the front part of the upper part of the fork guard in the left-right direction, and the intersection of the first and third outer surfaces forms the front end of the upper part of the fork guard. In this way, the front end of the upper part of the fork guard is located approximately in the middle of the fork guard in the left-right direction, and the first and third outer surfaces expand in the left-right direction from the front end of the upper part of the fork guard toward the rear.

In addition, in the upper portion of each fork guard in this embodiment, the front end of the second outer surface and the rear end of the first outer surface intersect with each other. The first outer surface extends rearward while inclining outward in the left-right direction, and the second outer surface extends rearward without inclining in the left-right direction, so the angle between the first outer surface and the second outer surface is an obtuse angle. As a result, the second outer surface is gently curved inward in the left-right direction with respect to the first outer surface. Note that even if the second outer surface extends rearward from the rear end of the first outer surface while inclining outward in the left-right direction to an extent smaller than the degree of inclination of the first outer surface in the left-right direction, the second outer surface is also in a state of being gently curved inward in the left-right direction with respect to the first outer surface, similar to the case where the second outer surface extends rearward without inclining in the left-right direction.

In addition, in the upper portion of each fork guard in this embodiment, the front end of the fourth outer surface and the rear end of the third outer surface intersect with each other. The third outer surface extends rearward while inclining inward in the left-right direction, and the fourth outer surface extends rearward without inclining in the left-right direction, so the angle between the third outer surface and the fourth outer surface is an obtuse angle. As a result, the fourth outer surface is gently curved outward in the left-right direction with respect to the third outer surface. Note that even if the fourth outer surface extends rearward from the rear end of the third outer surface while inclining inward in the left-right direction to an extent smaller than the extent of the inclination of the third outer surface in the left-right direction, the fourth outer surface is in a state of being gently curved outward in the left-right direction with respect to the third outer surface, similar to the case where the fourth outer surface extends rearward without inclining in the left-right direction.

At the top of each fork guard, the front end of the upper part of the fork guard is located approximately in the left-right middle of the fork guard, and the first outer surface and the third outer surface open outward in the left-right direction from the front end of the upper part of the fork guard to the rear, so that when the wind from traveling hits the upper part of the fork guard from the front, the wind is divided at approximately the left-right middle of the upper part of the fork guard into the wind flowing on the outside of the upper part of the fork guard in the left-right direction and the wind flowing on the inside of the upper part of the fork guard in the left-right direction.

The wind flowing on the left-right outer side of the upper part of the fork guard basically flows rearward along the first and second outer surfaces. The second outer surface is gently curved inward in the left-right direction relative to the first outer surface, which is inclined outward in the left-right direction. Therefore, when the wind flows along the first outer surface, the direction of the wind flows outward in the left-right direction along the first outer surface, but when the wind flows along the second outer surface, the direction of the wind changes to inward in the left-right direction relative to the direction of the wind when it flows along the first outer surface. As a result, the wind is prevented from diffusing outward in the left-right direction of the upper part of the fork guard.

In addition, the wind flowing along the left-right inner side of the upper part of the fork guard basically flows rearward along the third outer surface and the fourth outer surface. The fourth outer surface is gently curved outward in the left-right direction relative to the third outer surface, which is inclined inward in the left-right direction. Therefore, when the wind flows along the third outer surface, the direction of the wind is inward in the left-right direction along the third outer surface, but when the wind flows along the fourth outer surface, the direction of the wind changes to outward in the left-right direction relative to the direction of the wind when it flows along the third outer surface. As a result, the wind is prevented from diffusing inward in the left-right direction of the upper part of the fork guard.

In this way, it is possible to prevent the traveling wind from hitting the upper part of the fork guard and diffusing in the left and right direction, so even if a fork guard to protect the fork tubes of the front fork is provided on the front fender, it is possible to prevent a reduction in the amount of traveling wind hitting the heat exchanger, engine, exhaust pipe, etc. provided behind the front fork in a saddle-type vehicle.

In addition, the wind flowing on the left-right inner side of the upper part of the fork guard basically flows backward along the third and fourth outer surfaces, but depending on the flow speed of the wind blowing on the upper part of the fork guard from the front, the wind flowing on the left-right inner side of the upper part of the fork guard may flow along the third outer surface and then separate from the upper surface of the fork guard near the intersection of the third and fourth outer surfaces, causing eddies or turbulence in the wind after separation. However, the intersection of the third and fourth outer surfaces, i.e., the position where the wind may separate from the upper surface of the fork guard, is located behind the front end of the upper part of the fork guard, so the range in which eddies or turbulence occur in the wind after separation can be reduced.

Similarly, with respect to the traveling wind flowing on the left and right outer sides of the upper part of the fork guard, depending on the flow speed of the traveling wind blowing against the upper part of the fork guard from the front, the traveling wind may separate from the surface of the upper part of the fork guard near the intersection of the first outer surface and the second outer surface, causing eddies or turbulence in the traveling wind after separation. However, because the intersection of the first outer surface and the second outer surface is located behind the front end of the upper part of the fork guard, the range in which eddies or turbulence occur in the traveling wind after separation can be reduced.

In this way, the range of eddies or turbulence in the traveling wind that may occur when the traveling wind hits the upper part of the fork guard can be reduced, so even if the fork guard is installed on the front fender, it is possible to suppress a decrease in the flow speed of the traveling wind hitting the heat exchanger, engine, exhaust pipe, etc.

The following describes an embodiment of the saddle-type vehicle of the present invention. In the following description, when directions such as front (Fd), rear (Bd), left (Ld), right (Rd), up (Ud), and down (Dd) are mentioned, they will follow the arrows drawn at the bottom right of each figure.

(Saddle-type vehicle)
Fig. 1 shows a state where the front part of a saddle riding type vehicle 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention is seen from the right side. Fig. 2 shows a state where a cross section of the saddle riding type vehicle 1 cut on a horizontal plane P in Fig. 1 is seen from above.

As shown in FIG. 1, the saddle-type vehicle 1 is, for example, a motorcycle. The saddle-type vehicle 1 is equipped with a body frame 2 that forms the skeleton of the vehicle. The body frame 2 is equipped with a head pipe 3 disposed at the front of the body frame 2, two main frames 4 (only the right main frame is shown) that extend rearward from the head pipe 3 while spreading out to the left and right, and a down tube 5 that extends downward from the head pipe 3.

A steering shaft 7 is inserted into the head pipe 3. The steering shaft 7 is supported by the head pipe 3 so as to be rotatable around the axis of the head pipe 3. A front fork 11 is connected to the steering shaft 7 via an upper bracket 8 and a lower bracket 9. A front wheel 17 is rotatably supported at the lower end of the front fork 11. A front fender 41 is attached to the front fork 11, covering the area from above to the rear of the front wheel 17. A handlebar 20 is attached to the top of the upper bracket 8. When the user operates the handlebar 20, the steering shaft 7, front fork 11, front wheel 17, and front fender 41 rotate together, thereby allowing the saddle-type vehicle 1 to turn left and right.

The front fork 11 is a telescopic front fork. As shown in FIG. 2, the front fork 11 has a pair of fork tubes 12. Each fork tube 12 extends generally in the vertical direction, but more specifically, each fork tube 12, together with the head pipe 3 and steering shaft 7, is inclined at about 25 to 30 degrees with respect to the vertical direction so that its lower end is positioned forward of its upper end.

Each fork tube 12 is equipped with an outer tube 13 and an inner tube 14. The front fork 11 of this embodiment is an upright front fork, and as shown in FIG. 1, the inner tube 14 is positioned above the outer tube 13. The inner tube 14 has a smaller diameter than the outer tube 13, and the lower end of the inner tube 14 is inserted into the outer tube 13 so that it can expand and contract. A coil spring and an oil damper mechanism are provided inside each fork tube 12. When the front wheel 17 receives an impact from the road surface, each fork tube 12 contracts in response to the impact and absorbs the impact.

The pair of fork tubes 12 are disposed to the left and right of the steering shaft 7, which is disposed in the center of the saddle-type vehicle 1 in the left-right direction. The upper part of the inner tube 14 of each fork tube 12 is connected to the steering shaft 7 via an upper bracket 8 and a lower bracket 9. The front wheel 17 is disposed between the lower end portions of the outer tubes 13 of the pair of fork tubes 12, and is supported by the lower end portions of these outer tubes 13 so as to be rotatable about the rotation axis X. The front fender 41 is disposed between the upper parts of the outer tubes 13 of the pair of fork tubes 12, and is fixed to the upper parts of these outer tubes 13.

In addition, in the saddle-type vehicle 1, an engine 21 is provided in the center in the left-right direction behind the front wheel 17. The engine 21 is supported by the body frame 2. The engine 21 includes a crankcase 22, a cylinder 23, a cylinder head 24, and a cylinder head cover 25. An exhaust pipe 26 is connected to the front of the cylinder head 24 of the engine 21. The exhaust pipe 26 first passes in front of the engine 21, then passes below the engine 21, and extends rearward. In addition, as shown in FIG. 2, an oil cooler 27 serving as a heat exchanger is provided behind the front wheel 17 and above the engine 21. The oil cooler 27 is located on the left side of the saddle-type vehicle 1, and is supported by the down tube 5 or the like.

As shown in FIG. 1, a front cover 28 is provided on the upper front of the front fork 11. The front cover 28 covers the meters and headlights provided on the upper front of the front fork 11. A pair of side covers 29 are provided on the left rear and right rear of the front wheel 17. The head pipe 3, the front of each main frame 4, the down tube 5, the upper part of the front fork 11, the oil cooler 27, etc. are arranged between the pair of side covers 29. A running wind introduction passage 30 is formed between the pair of side covers 29 to introduce running wind between the pair of side covers 29 (the range of the running wind introduction passage 30 is indicated by the dashed arrow in FIG. 2).

(Front fender and fork guard)
Fig. 3 shows the front fender 41 and fork guard 48 as viewed from above the front left. Fig. 4 shows the front fender 41 and fork guard 48 as viewed from the front, Fig. 5 shows the front fender 41 and fork guard 48 as viewed from above, and Fig. 6 shows the front fender 41 and fork guard 48 as viewed from the left. Fig. 7 shows a cross section of the front fender 41 cut at plane Q in Fig. 5 as viewed from below in Fig. 5.

3 and 5, the front fender 41 has an upper plate portion 42 and a pair of side plate portions 43 provided on the left and right sides of the upper plate portion 42. The upper plate portion 42 has a shape curved in an arc and covers the upper part of the tire of the front wheel 17 from above. Each side plate portion 43 has a roughly crescent shape and covers the upper part of the tire of the front wheel 17 from the side. The upper plate portion 42 and the pair of side plate portions 43 are integrally formed, for example, by resin molding. Also, as shown in FIG. 6, each side plate portion 43 is provided with a fixing portion 44 for fixing the front fender 41 to the outer tube 13 of the front fork 11. Also, as shown in FIG. 3 and FIG. 7, a step portion 45 inclined downward toward the rear is formed in the upper plate portion 42 in a portion located between a pair of fork guards 48 described later.

As shown in FIG. 3, the front fender 41 is provided with a pair of fork guards 48 for protecting the pair of fork tubes 12 of the front fork 11. The pair of fork guards 48 are disposed on the left and right sides of the front fender 41, respectively. Each fork guard 48 is positioned in front of the fork tubes 12 and covers a portion of the front of the fork tubes 12.

Each fork guard 48 is integrally formed with the front fender 41, for example, by resin molding. Each fork guard 48 protrudes outward in the left-right direction from the side plate portion 43 of the front fender 41. Also, as shown in FIG. 1, each fork guard 48 extends in a direction parallel to the extension direction of the fork tube 12.

As shown in FIG. 3, each fork guard 48 has a guard base 49 and a guard protrusion 50. The upper part of each fork guard 48 protrudes above the upper surface of the upper plate 42 of the front fender 41. The part of each fork guard 48 that protrudes above the upper surface of the upper plate 42 is the guard protrusion 50. The part of each fork guard 48 that does not protrude above the upper surface of the upper plate 42 (the part of each fork guard 48 other than the guard protrusion 50) is the guard base 49. The guard protrusion 50 is a specific example of the "upper part of the fork guard" in the claims.

As shown in FIG. 1, when the fork tube 12 is viewed from the outside, each fork guard 48 widely covers the boundary between the inner tube 14 and the outer tube 13 and the surrounding area from the front. In each fork guard 48, the guard protrusion 50 covers a part of the inner tube 14 from the front, and the guard base 49 covers a part of the inner tube 14 and a part of the outer tube 13 from the front. Also, as shown in FIG. 4, when viewed from the front of the saddle-type vehicle 1, the guard protrusion 50 of each fork guard 48 widely covers a part of the inner tube 14 in the left-right direction. Also, the guard base 49 of each fork guard 48 widely covers a part of the inner tube 14 and a part of the outer tube 13 in the left-right direction. The position of the end of the lower part of the guard base 49 in the left-right direction is the same as the position of the outer surface of the outer tube 13 on the left-right outer side, or is laterally outboard of the position of the outer surface of the outer tube 13 on the left-right outer side. The area covered by each fork guard 48 includes all or part of the portion of the inner tube 14 that enters and exits the outer tube 13. Also, in each fork guard 48, the guard protrusion 50 protrudes above the upper surface of the upper plate portion 42 of the front fender 41, so the area that the fork guard 48 covers over the fork tube 12 is expanded upward, resulting in a wider area of the fork guard 48 covering the fork tube 12.

Each fork guard 48 can protect the front fork 11 by preventing flying stones and the like from colliding with the front fork 11. Specifically, each fork guard 48 can prevent flying stones and the like from colliding with the part of the inner tube 14 where it enters and exits the outer tube 13, and can prevent damage to the part of the inner tube 14 where it enters and exits the outer tube 13.

(Guard protrusion)
A detailed description will be given of the guard protrusion 50 of each fork guard 48. Since the pair of fork guards 48 have bilaterally symmetrical shapes, only the guard protrusion 50 of the left fork guard 48 will be described here, and a description of the guard protrusion 50 of the right fork guard 48 will be omitted.

The guard protrusion 50 has six outer surfaces. That is, the guard protrusion 50 has an outer front surface 51 and an outer lateral surface 52 as shown in FIG. 6, an inner front surface 53, an inner lateral surface 54, and a rear surface 55 as shown in FIG. 7, and an upper surface 56 as shown in FIG. 5. The outer front surface 51, the outer lateral surface 52, the inner front surface 53, and the inner lateral surface 54 are specific examples of the "first outer surface," "second outer surface," "third outer surface," and "fourth outer surface" in the claims.

8 shows the state of the cut surface S of the fork tube 12 and the guard protrusion 50 cut at the horizontal plane P in FIG. 1, as seen from above. FIG. 9 shows an enlarged view of the shape of the cut surface S of the guard protrusion 50 cut at the horizontal plane P. The horizontal plane P is a horizontal plane that intersects with the guard protrusion 50 and passes through a position a predetermined distance D above the rotation axis X of the front wheel 17 (see FIG. 1). In FIG. 9, the line segment ab connecting points a and b indicates the boundary between the cut surface S and the outer front surface 51. The line segment bc connecting points b and c indicates the boundary between the cut surface S and the outer side surface 52. The line segment ad connecting points a and d indicates the boundary between the cut surface S and the inner front surface 53. The line segment ed connecting points d and e indicates the boundary between the cut surface S and the inner side surface 54. Additionally, the line segment ce connecting points c and e generally indicates the boundary between the cutting surface S and the rear surface 55.

8 and 9, the outer front surface 51 extends rearward in a straight line while inclining outward in the left-right direction from approximately the center position of the front of the guard projection 50 in the left-right direction. The outer side surface 52 extends rearward in a straight line while inclining outward in the left-right direction from the rear end of the outer front surface 51 to a degree smaller than the degree of inclination of the outer front surface 51 in the left-right direction. The inner front surface 53 extends rearward in a straight line while inclining inward in the left-right direction from approximately the center position of the front of the guard projection 50 in the left-right direction. The inner side surface 54 extends rearward in a straight line from the rear end of the inner front surface 53 without inclining in the left-right direction. The rear surface 55 extends left-right while inclining so that its outer end in the left-right direction is located rearward of its inner end in the left-right direction.

9, the angle A2 between the horizontal line Y2 passing through point b and perpendicular to the extension direction of the rotation axis X of the front wheel 17 and the boundary line (line segment bc) between the cutting surface S and the outer lateral surface 52 is smaller than the angle A1 between the horizontal line Y1 passing through point a and perpendicular to the extension direction of the rotation axis X of the front wheel 17 and the boundary line (line segment ab) between the cutting surface S and the outer front surface 51. Also, the angle between the horizontal line Y3 passing through point d and perpendicular to the extension direction of the rotation axis X of the front wheel 17 and the boundary line (line segment de) between the cutting surface S and the inner lateral surface 54 is 0 degrees, which is smaller than the angle A3 between the line Y1 and the boundary line (line segment ad) between the cutting surface S and the inner front surface 53.

In addition, both the outer front surface 51 and the outer lateral surface 52 extend backward while inclining outward in the left-right direction, and the degree of inclination of the outer lateral surface 52 in the left-right direction is smaller than the degree of inclination of the outer front surface 51 in the left-right direction. Therefore, the angle A4 between the outer front surface 51 and the outer lateral surface 52 is an obtuse angle. As a result, the outer lateral surface 52 is gently curved inward in the left-right direction relative to the outer front surface 51. In addition, the inner front surface 53 extends backward while inclining inward in the left-right direction, and the inner lateral surface 54 extends backward without inclining in the left-right direction. Therefore, the angle A5 between the inner front surface 53 and the inner lateral surface 54 is an obtuse angle. As a result, the inner lateral surface 54 is gently curved outward in the left-right direction relative to the inner front surface 53.

In addition, in the guard protrusion 50 in this embodiment, the length of the outer front surface 51 (length of line segment ab) is longer than the length of the outer side surface 52 (length of line segment bc) in the front-rear and left-right directions. Also, the length of the inner front surface 53 (length of line segment ad) is longer than the length of the inner side surface 54 (length of line segment de) in the front-rear and left-right directions.

The outer shape of the cut surface S of the guard protrusion 50 surrounded by the outer front surface 51, the outer side surface 52, the inner front surface 53, the inner side surface 54, and the rear surface 55 is approximately pentagonal. On the other hand, the upper surface 56 is a substantially horizontal surface as shown in FIG. 6. The outer shape of the upper surface 56 is also approximately pentagonal.

9, the front end 57 of the guard projection 50, where the outer front surface 51 and the inner front surface 53 intersect, is located approximately in the left-right middle of the guard projection 50. As can be seen from Figures 4 and 8, the front end 57 of the guard projection 50 is located laterally inward of the outermost portion 14A in the left-right direction of the outer surface of the lower part of the inner tube 14 of the fork tube 12 arranged behind the guard projection 50, and laterally outward of the innermost portion 14B in the left-right direction of the outer surface of the lower part of the inner tube 14, when viewed from the front of the saddle-riding vehicle 1. In addition, dashed line K1 in FIG. 8 is a horizontal line that is perpendicular to the extension direction of the rotation axis X of the front wheel 17 and tangent to portion 14A of the inner tube 14, and dashed line K2 in FIG. 8 is a horizontal line that is perpendicular to the extension direction of the rotation axis X of the front wheel 17 and tangent to portion 14B of the inner tube 14, and when viewed from above the saddle-type vehicle 1, the front end 57 of the guard protrusion 50 is located between dashed line K1 and dashed line K2.

As shown in FIG. 8, the rear extension line E of the boundary line (line segment bc) between the cut surface S of the guard protrusion 50 cut by the horizontal plane P and the outer lateral surface 52 contacts the outer surface on the left-right side of the lower part of the inner tube 14 of the fork tube 12 arranged behind the guard protrusion 50. As can be seen from FIG. 2 and FIG. 8, the extension line E passes through the running wind introduction passage 30. The extension line E also intersects with the front surface of the oil cooler 27.

The outer front surface 51, outer side surface 52, inner front surface 53, and inner side surface 54 of the guard protrusion 50 function to form the flow of the running wind as described below. That is, the front end 57 of the guard protrusion 50 is located approximately in the middle of the guard protrusion 50 in the left-right direction, and the outer front surface 51 and inner front surface 53 expand in the left-right direction from the front end 57 of the guard protrusion 50 toward the rear. Therefore, when the running wind hits the guard protrusion 50 from the front, the running wind is divided at approximately the middle of the guard protrusion 50 in the left-right direction into the running wind flowing on the outside of the guard protrusion 50 in the left-right direction and the running wind flowing on the inside of the guard protrusion 50 in the left-right direction (see arrows F1 and F3 in Figure 9).

The wind flowing on the left-right outer side of the guard protrusion 50 basically flows rearward along the outer front surface 51 and the outer lateral surface 52. The outer lateral surface 52 is gently curved inward in the left-right direction relative to the outer front surface 51, so when the wind flows along the outer front surface 51, the direction of the wind is outward in the left-right direction along the outer front surface 51, but when the wind flows along the outer lateral surface 52, the direction of the wind changes to inward in the left-right direction relative to the direction of the wind when it flows along the outer front surface 51 (see arrow F2 in FIG. 9). As a result, the wind is prevented from diffusing outward in the left-right direction of the guard protrusion 50.

In addition, the running wind flowing inside the guard protrusion 50 in the left-right direction basically flows rearward along the inner front surface 53 and the inner side surface 54. Since the inner side surface 54 is gently curved outward in the left-right direction relative to the inner front surface 53, when the running wind flows along the inner front surface 53, the direction of the running wind is inward in the left-right direction along the inner front surface 53, but when the running wind flows along the inner side surface 54, the direction of the running wind changes to outward in the left-right direction compared to the direction when the running wind flows along the inner front surface 53 (arrow F4 in FIG. 9). As a result, the running wind is suppressed from diffusing inward in the left-right direction of the guard protrusion 50.

In addition, the running wind flowing on the left-right inner side of the guard protrusion 50 basically flows backward along the inner front surface 53 and the inner side surface 54. However, depending on the flow speed of the running wind blowing from the front of the guard protrusion 50, the running wind flowing on the left-right inner side of the guard protrusion 50 may flow along the inner front surface 53 and then separate from the surface of the guard protrusion 50 near the position where the inner front surface 53 and the inner side surface 54 intersect (point d in FIG. 9), causing eddies or turbulence in the running wind after separation. However, the position where the inner front surface 53 and the inner side surface 54 intersect, i.e., the position where the running wind may separate from the surface of the guard protrusion 50, is located behind the front end 57 of the guard protrusion 50, so the range in which eddies or turbulence in the running wind occurs after separation is smaller.

Similarly, with respect to the traveling wind flowing on the left-right outer side of the guard protrusion 50, depending on the flow speed of the traveling wind blowing against the guard protrusion 50 from the front, the traveling wind may separate from the surface of the guard protrusion 50 near the position where the outer front surface 51 and the outer lateral surface 52 intersect (point b in FIG. 9), causing eddies or turbulence in the traveling wind after separation. However, because the position where the outer front surface 51 and the outer lateral surface 52 intersect is located behind the front end 57 of the guard protrusion 50, the range in which eddies or turbulence occur in the traveling wind after separation is smaller.

As described above, the guard protrusion 50 of each fork guard 48 of the saddle-ride type vehicle 1 of the embodiment of the present invention has an outer front surface 51 that extends linearly rearward while inclining outward in the left-right direction from approximately the middle position of the front of the guard protrusion 50 in the left-right direction, an outer side surface 52 that extends linearly rearward from the rear end of the outer front surface 51 while inclining outward in the left-right direction to an extent smaller than the degree of inclination of the outer front surface 51 in the left-right direction, an inner front surface 53 that extends linearly rearward while inclining inward in the left-right direction from approximately the middle position of the front of the guard protrusion 50 in the left-right direction, and an inner side surface 54 that extends linearly rearward without inclining in the left-right direction from the rear end of the inner front surface 53. This configuration makes it possible to suppress the diffusion of the traveling wind that hits the guard protrusion 50 in the left-right direction. Therefore, it is possible to suppress a decrease in the amount of traveling wind that hits the oil cooler 27, the engine 21, the exhaust pipe 26, and other parts arranged behind the front fork 11 in the saddle-ride type vehicle 1 due to the traveling wind hitting the guard protrusion 50. In addition, the configuration of the outer front surface 51, outer side surface 52, inner front surface 53, and inner side surface 54 of the guard protrusion 50 can reduce the range of eddies or turbulence in the traveling wind that may occur when the traveling wind hits the guard protrusion 50. Therefore, it is possible to suppress a decrease in the flow speed of the traveling wind that hits the oil cooler 27, the engine 21, the exhaust pipe 26, and other parts arranged behind the front fork 11 in the saddle-type vehicle 1 due to the traveling wind hitting the guard protrusion 50. In this way, the guard protrusion 50 can suppress a decrease in the amount and flow speed of the traveling wind that hits the parts arranged behind the front fork 11, so it is possible to suppress a decrease in the cooling effect of the traveling wind on the parts arranged behind the front fork 11 due to the provision of the fork guard 48.

As described above, the cross section of the guard protrusion 50 has a generally pentagonal shape including the outer front surface 51, the outer side surface 52, the inner front surface 53, and the inner side surface 54. This configuration also makes it possible to suppress a decrease in the amount and speed of the traveling wind hitting the parts behind the front fork 11, which is caused by the traveling wind hitting the guard protrusion 50. Therefore, it is possible to suppress a decrease in the cooling effect of the traveling wind on the parts behind the front fork 11, which is caused by the provision of the fork guard 48.

In addition, the front end 57 of the guard protrusion 50 where the outer front surface 51 and the inner front surface 53 intersect is located laterally inward of the outermost part 14A in the left-right direction of the outer surface of the lower part of the inner tube 14, and laterally outward of the innermost part 14B in the left-right direction of the outer surface of the lower part of the inner tube 14, when viewed from the front of the saddle-type vehicle 1. This configuration makes it possible to suppress the diffusion of both the traveling wind that hits the guard protrusion 50 and flows outward in the left-right direction, and the traveling wind that hits the guard protrusion 50 and flows inward in the left-right direction. Therefore, it is possible to suppress a reduction in the amount of traveling wind that hits the rear parts of the front fork 11, which is caused by the traveling wind hitting the guard protrusion 50.

In addition, the rear extension line E of the boundary line (line segment bc) between the cut surface S of the guard protrusion 50 cut by the horizontal plane P and the outer lateral surface 52 contacts the outer surface of the inner tube 14 of the fork tube 12 arranged behind the guard protrusion 50 in the left-right direction. With this configuration, the traveling wind that hits the guard protrusion 50 and passes outside the guard protrusion 50 in the left-right direction passes through an area that is very close to the inner tube 14 located behind the guard protrusion 50 and flows rearward. This enhances the effect of suppressing the diffusion of the traveling wind that hits the guard protrusion 50 outward in the left-right direction. In addition, the traveling wind that hits the guard protrusion 50 and passes outside the guard protrusion 50 in the left-right direction can be suppressed from hitting the inner tube 14 located behind the guard protrusion 50 and diffusing.

In addition, the rear extension line E of the boundary line (line segment bc) between the cut surface S of the guard protrusion 50 cut by the horizontal plane P and the outer lateral surface 52 passes through the running wind introduction passage 30 formed between the pair of side covers 29. With this configuration, the direction of the running wind after hitting the guard protrusion 50 can be controlled so that the running wind hits the oil cooler 27 and other components arranged between the pair of side covers 29. This makes it possible to increase the amount of running wind that hits the components arranged between the pair of side covers 29, thereby improving the cooling effect of these components.

In addition, the rear extension line E of the boundary line (line segment bc) between the cut surface S of the guard protrusion 50 cut by the horizontal plane P and the outer lateral surface 52 intersects with the front surface of the oil cooler 27. With this configuration, the direction of the traveling wind after hitting the guard protrusion 50 can be controlled so that the traveling wind hits the oil cooler 27. This makes it possible to increase the amount of traveling wind that hits the oil cooler 27, thereby improving the cooling effect of the oil cooler 27.

The shape of the cut surface S of the guard protrusion 50 cut by the horizontal plane P is not limited to that shown in FIG. 9. The length of each outer surface of the guard protrusion 50 in the front-rear and left-right directions, the angle between two outer surfaces of the guard protrusion 50 that intersect with each other, etc. can be appropriately changed within the scope of the most important invention described in the claims. For example, in the above embodiment, the outer lateral surface 52 extends linearly backward from the rear end of the outer front surface 51 in the outward direction in the left-right direction while inclining to an extent smaller than the inclination of the outer front surface 51 in the left-right direction, but the outer lateral surface 52 may extend linearly backward from the rear end of the outer front surface 51 without inclining in the left-right direction. Also, in the above embodiment, the inner lateral surface 54 extends linearly backward from the rear end of the inner front surface 53 without inclining in the left-right direction, but the inner lateral surface 54 may extend linearly backward from the rear end of the inner front surface 53 in the inward direction in the left-right direction while inclining to an extent smaller than the inclination of the inner front surface 53 in the left-right direction. Additionally, the outer front surface 51, the outer side surface 52, the inner front surface 53, or the inner side surface 54 do not have to extend in a straight line, but may be gently curved so as to bulge outward from the center of the guard protrusion 50 in the front-rear and left-right directions.

In addition, while the front fork 11 in the above embodiment is an upright type, the present invention can also be applied to saddle-type vehicles that have inverted front forks.

In the above embodiment, an oil cooler 27 is used as an example of a heat exchanger, and the oil cooler 27 is disposed on the left side of the saddle-type vehicle 1. However, the heat exchanger in the present invention may be another type of heat exchanger, such as a radiator, and the heat exchanger may be disposed in the center or right side of the saddle-type vehicle 1. The heat exchanger in the present invention may be a large heat exchanger that extends from the left to the right side of the saddle-type vehicle. The present invention may also be applied to a saddle-type vehicle having multiple heat exchangers.

The present invention can also be applied to saddle-type vehicles other than motorcycles.

The present invention may be modified as appropriate without going against the gist or concept of the invention as can be read from the claims and the entire specification, and saddle-type vehicles with such modifications are also included in the technical concept of the present invention.

REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 1 saddle-type vehicle 2 vehicle body frame 7 steering shaft 11 front fork 12 fork tube 13 outer tube 14 inner tube 17 front wheel 27 oil cooler (heat exchanger)
29 Side cover 30 Traveling wind introduction passage 41 Front fender 48 Fork guard 50 Guard protrusion (upper part of fork guard)
51 Outer front surface (first outer surface)
52 outer lateral surface (second outer surface)
53 Inner front surface (third outer surface)
54 Medial lateral surface (fourth outer surface)
57 Front end

Claims (6)

The vehicle frame,
a front fork having a pair of fork tubes and connected to a steering shaft rotatably supported at a front portion of the body frame;
a front wheel provided between lower end portions of the pair of fork tubes;
a front fender provided between the pair of fork tubes and covering at least an upper portion of the front wheel,
The front fender is provided with a pair of fork guards that are located in front of the pair of fork tubes and cover a portion of the pair of fork tubes, in order to protect the pair of fork tubes,
Each of the fork guards protrudes outward in the left-right direction from the front fender,
An upper portion of each of the fork guards protrudes upward beyond the front fender,
the upper portion of each fork guard having a first outer surface, a second outer surface, a third outer surface, and a fourth outer surface;
The first outer surface extends rearward while inclining outward in the left-right direction from a substantially middle position in the left-right direction of a front portion of an upper portion of each of the fork guards,
the second outer surface extends rearward from a rear end of the first outer surface without inclining in the left-right direction, or extends rearward from the rear end of the first outer surface while inclining outward in the left-right direction to a degree smaller than the degree of inclination of the first outer surface in the left-right direction,
The third outer surface extends rearward while inclining inward in the left-right direction from a substantially middle position in the left-right direction of a front portion of an upper portion of each of the fork guards,
the fourth outer surface extends rearward from a rear end of the third outer surface without inclining in the left-right direction, or extends rearward from the rear end of the third outer surface while inclining inward in the left-right direction to a degree that is smaller than the degree of inclination of the third outer surface in the left-right direction. Each of the fork tubes includes an outer tube and an inner tube having a smaller diameter than the outer tube and one end of which is inserted into the outer tube,
2. The saddle-type vehicle according to claim 1, wherein, in an upper portion of each fork guard, a front end of the fork guard where the first outer surface and the third outer surface intersect with each other is located laterally inward from a left-right outermost portion of an outer surface of the inner tube of the fork tube arranged behind the fork guard, and laterally outward from a left-right innermost portion of an outer surface of the inner tube, when viewed from the front of the saddle-type vehicle. Each of the fork tubes includes an outer tube and an inner tube having a smaller diameter than the outer tube and one end of which is inserted into the outer tube,
2. The saddle-type vehicle according to claim 1, wherein in each of the fork guards, a rear extension line of a boundary line between the second outer surface and a cut surface obtained by cutting the upper portion of the fork guard with a horizontal plane that intersects with the upper portion of the fork guard and passes through a position a predetermined distance above the rotation axis of the front wheel, is tangent to the outer surface on the left-right side of the inner tube of the fork tube arranged behind the fork guard. A pair of side covers are provided on the left and right rear sides of the front wheels,
Between the pair of side covers, a running wind introduction passage is formed to introduce running wind between the pair of side covers,
4. A saddle-type vehicle according to claim 1, wherein in each of the fork guards, a rear extension line of a boundary line between the second outer surface and a cut surface obtained by cutting the upper portion of the fork guard with a horizontal plane that intersects with the upper portion of the fork guard and passes through a position a predetermined distance above the rotation axis of the front wheel passes through the running wind introduction passage. A heat exchanger is provided behind the front wheels,
5. A saddle-type vehicle as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that in at least one of the pair of fork guards, a rear extension line of a boundary line between a cut surface obtained by cutting the upper part of the fork guard with a horizontal plane that intersects with the upper part of the fork guard and passes through a position a predetermined distance above the rotation axis of the front wheel and the second outer surface intersects with a front surface of the heat exchanger. A saddle-type vehicle according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that when a cut surface of the upper portion of each fork guard is cut by a horizontal plane that intersects with the upper portion of each fork guard and passes through a position a predetermined distance above the rotation axis of the front wheel, the external shape of the cut surface is approximately pentagonal when viewed from above.

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