GB2589384A

GB2589384A - Ring-and-pocket frame for electric motorcycle

Info

Publication number: GB2589384A
Application number: GB1917531.4A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Marques Ferreira Gracinda
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2019-12-01
Filing date: 2019-12-01
Publication date: 2021-06-02
Also published as: GB201917531D0

Abstract

A convex rectangular ring frame for a motorcycle has suspended from it a second frame that holds the electric motor and other electrical parts. Between the two frames is a vibration dampening layer. The front and rear ends of the ring frame are attached to the steering head and rear wheel suspension bars.

Description

INTRODUCTION

There are 4 major types of frames in motorcycle engineering at present. They are: cradle: it shapes a single or double tube loop around the engine and other components. It's held at front by the steering head and at the back by the swingarm.

trellis: components are fit on, in and below it, and it's dependant on a structural y reinforced engine to provide integral structural stifness spine: components are hung on and around it, bearing their own weight against their single support point, and must obbey transversal simmetry.

beam (or perimeter frame): components are fit on, in and below it, some of which bearing di nami c loads other than their own weight.

F rameless motorcycles, as presented by Ducati and H onda in 2010 and 2006 patents respectively, means that none of the aforementioned traditional frames are used. Instead, the motor is designed to behave as a structural anchor for the other components, such as the beams that support the fuel container in the front, the seat in the back, and the swingarms.

All the listed geometries have been adopted in both combustion and electric motorcycles. The frames are characterized by offering support along an oblique axis that extends from the steering head up in the front to the back wheel axel, on a lower point With the exception of the wheels and stewing bar, all the remaining components will connect to these frames as to fit in mechanic concatenation, hence providing structural resistance. Furthermore, the frameless design is not suited for electric motorcycles, due to their specific technical characteristics, as described bellow.

In electric motorcycles, adopting this same approach shows a consistency with tradition but a lack of understanding of the fundamental differences of electric motorcycles: a motor and a battery are essentially the two main parts, and they don't need to go together. A smaller number of mechanical elements produce less vibration and offer the possibility of more structural stability and stifness to a frame that will be subject to more torque and power.

DESCRIPTION:

Creating an innovative layered assembly design can improve an electric motorcycle's production and maintenance operations while assuring a compact and stable chassis frame. For this purpose, the most relevant structural innovations are: 1) A "ring frame". This convex rectangular ring frame is positioned approximately at riding height, and connects to the front and rear arms using angled interfaces; 2) A "pocket frame". This 3-dimensional triangular shaped frame i ntefaces on it's upper convex edge with the ring frame, and hangs below from inside it's edges.

The ring frame positioned centrally between front and rear arms will hold the seat and storage compartment on top of it. Distinctively, this solution presents a main frame that is horizontal, instead of the usual diagonal frames. It develops in a closed loop and acts as a supporting perimeter for the remaining chassis components.

The angled interfaces at the front and rear ends of this frame connect to the steering head at front, and to the suspension bars of the rear wheels.

Being a ring structure, this frame lets the lower part of the chassis fit inside and stand suspended in its egdes. This is how the pocket frame fits inside and beneath it. An insulating and vibration dampener layer is placed between ring frame and pocket frame.

Held by geometry, the pocket frame hangs in a lower position and is hollow and open on the uper side, effectively working as a container. This is the heaviest part of the motorcycle, as it contains almost all electronic and electric components. They are fit inside the pocket frame in layers separate by 3D printed barriers that buffer and sustain them, according to their specific geometries.

The inverted curved apex of the pocket frame is shaped to contain the drive motor, which occupies the lower layer, closer to the wheels. The battery and other electric and electronic components, such as charger, control ers, BMS, battery cooling system, cables, switches and fuses, all sit in layers above the motor.

A nother framed aperture on the rear face of the pocket frame, at level with the motor on a lower height allows the conveyer belt and swing arms to reach the rear wheel. The pocket frame has front and back concave edges that follow the curvature of the wheels and provide an asthetic flowing design.

With this assembly, layered all the way from the seat and glove compartment to the motor and conveyer belt, the motorcycle has its finished look.

SUSTAINABILITY: On the sustainabi I ity perspective, and for very practical reasons, 3D printing is the best solution to produce the main frame components (ring frame and pocket frame), as it saves on material, and by avoiding waste it also saves on the potencial costs of putting it back for recycling. Having the specificities of electric power systems in mind, this design draws on the simplicity that these represent in terms of rrechani cal principles and ease of maintenance, making for an overall intelligent cl ean and visually attractive solution, with low production and environmental costs, but also a very low resulting CO2 output, from craddle to end of life.

Claims

CLAIMS: The claims for this patent focus on both product and process aspects, and are essentially the following 6 claims: 1. There is a ring frame that holds the pocket frame, having a vibration dampener layer between them -Innovation in product 2. Two angled interfaces at the front and rear edges of the ring frame connect this frame to the steering head at front, and to the suspension bars of the rear wheels -Innovation in product 3. There is a pocket frame that hangs from the ring frame, sitting inside and bellow it Inside, it holds motor and most of the electronic and electric parts of the motorcycle -Innovation in product 4. The assembly process for seat+storage compartment, ring frame and pocket frame is that of layers -Innovation in process 5. Inside the pocket frame, the assembly process for the contained components is that of layers, with the motor sitting on the lowest layer -Innovation in process 6. These innovations are destined to produce an electric motorcycle which is envi ronmently friendly and sustainable, both in it's production methods and in it's day-to-day i.tti I izati on.page 4