JP2941219B2 - Front structure of saddle-type four-wheel 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 vehicle body front structure of a saddle riding type four-wheeled all-terrain vehicle, and more particularly to a saddle riding type having a mud plate attached to a side surface of a body frame corresponding to the inside of the front wheel. The present invention relates to a vehicle body front structure of a four-wheel terrain vehicle.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A straddle-type four-wheeled all-terrain vehicle is equipped with front wheels (steering wheels) via suspension devices (struts, etc.) on the left and right front portions of a body frame, and a vehicle body frame (hereinafter, referred to as "steering wheel").
Left and right rear wheels (drive wheels) on a swing arm that is swingably supported by a pivot shaft provided at the center of a frame (hereinafter simply referred to as a frame) and suspended by a load-carrying cushion unit.
With the steering wheel, which is pivotally supported at the front part of the frame, is turned by the steering wheel to steer the two front wheels, the vehicle is driven by driving the front wheels or rear wheels with the engine mounted at the center part of the frame. Is configured.

[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 disclosing such a saddle-ride type four-wheel uneven terrain vehicle is disclosed in, for example, 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.

[0005] On the other hand, the body frame of the saddle-ride type four-wheel uneven terrain vehicle is usually formed by 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 sides. A plurality of side members connecting the main upper member and the main lower member at a plurality of positions at predetermined intervals in the front-rear direction, and 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 left and right seat rails extending rearward from the left and right main upper 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, saddle-ride type four-wheeled off-road vehicles are frequently used for off-road driving, and the lower half of the vehicle body is often exposed to dust and muddy water during traveling, compared to automobiles and the like. Various measures have been taken. As one of them, wall-shaped mudguards are mounted inside the left and right front wheels in order to prevent dust, pebbles, muddy water and the like near the front wheels from entering the inside of the vehicle body. Such a prior art is disclosed, for example, in Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 4-53354.

[0008]

However, in a conventional saddle-ride type four-wheel uneven terrain vehicle, vertical wall-shaped flaps are provided at positions inside the left and right front wheels, that is, at respective positions on both sides of the front portion of the vehicle body frame. Since the inside of the frame is separated from the outside of the frame by one mud plate (flap) at each of the left and right positions, the shock absorber for front wheel suspension, the drive shaft for front wheel drive, and the shock absorber are attached. It is necessary to provide a large notch in the mud plate in order to prevent interference between the mud plate and the frame parts such as brackets, fender stays, etc., and it is difficult to secure a sufficient mud function. It is.

That is, in a conventional saddle-ride type four-wheeled all-terrain vehicle, mud, dust, and the like, which are thrown up by the front wheels, easily enter the interior of the vehicle body from the notches in the mudguard plate.
In a vehicle equipped with a radiator, an oil cooler, a fan, or the like, it may be difficult to maintain their functions. In addition, since the area of the mud plate is large, the mud plate interferes with the shock absorber and the suspension member, and there is a disadvantage that workability in assembling these components is inferior.

[0010] The present invention has been made in view of such technical problems, and an object of the present invention is to minimize the size of the notch portion even where interference occurs between a mudguard plate and a bracket. Thus, the gap formed in the mud plate can be reduced, whereby the intrusion of mud and dust into the vehicle body can be reduced or prevented, and the suspension device exposed outside the frame can be reduced. It is possible to prevent pebbles, mud and twigs from directly hitting functional components such as a steering device or a driving device, and to protect these functional components.
An object of the present invention is to provide a vehicle body front structure of a saddle type four-wheel uneven terrain vehicle capable of improving the assemblability of a mudguard plate and its peripheral members.

[0011]

According to the first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a vehicle body front structure for a saddle-ride type four-wheel uneven terrain vehicle in which a front fender for covering an upper portion and a rear portion of a front wheel is provided. A mudguard attached so as to form a substantially vertical wall surface in the front-rear direction along the side surface of the body frame corresponding to the inside of the front wheel, wherein the mudguard is a front mudguard and a rear mudguard. And at least one of the front and rear mud plates is provided integrally with a projection for covering a member existing outside the side surface of the vehicle body frame and inside the front wheel.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in addition to the configuration of the first aspect, the member existing outside the side surface of the body frame and inside the front wheel is a drive shaft, and one of the front and rear mudguard plates is provided. A structure in which a projecting portion having a shape that covers the front side of the drive shaft is provided, or a member that is outside the side surface of the body frame and inside the front wheel is a shock absorber, and the shock absorber is attached to one of the front and rear mud plates. The above-mentioned object can be achieved more efficiently by providing a projecting portion having a shape that covers the outside of the device.

[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 one embodiment of a saddle-ride type four-wheel uneven terrain vehicle having a vehicle body front structure to which the present invention is applied, and FIG. FIG. 3 is a plan view, and FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a vehicle body frame of the saddle type four-wheel uneven terrain vehicle shown in FIG. 1 to 3, an engine 11 is mounted on a central portion of a frame (body frame) 10 formed of a pipe welded structure, and left and right front wheels (steering and driving in this embodiment) are provided on both front sides of the frame 10. Wheels 12, 12 are suspended from the frame 10
Left and right rear wheels 13, 13 are suspended from the rear of the vehicle.

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 a front propeller shaft 41 by the engine 11
And a transmission mechanism including a differential gear (not shown) and the like. Further, the left and right rear wheels 13, 13 are also driven by the engine 11 via a transmission mechanism including a rear propeller shaft (not shown) and a differential gear (not shown).

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. In this embodiment, the intake duct 3
A front end opening 31 (air intake port for the engine) is opened rearward in a box-shaped space formed by using a lower surface of a central portion of the front fender 23.

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view including the front wheel axle along the line 4-4 in FIG. 1. FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the vehicle body front structure of the saddle type four-wheel uneven terrain vehicle shown in FIG. FIG. 4 and 5, the left and right front wheels 12, 12 are independently suspended on both sides of the front portion of the vehicle body frame 10, respectively, and in this embodiment, are suspended by a strut suspension type suspension device. Also, the body frame 1
0, a differential gear 4 driven by the engine 11 via the front propeller shaft 41 (FIG. 1).
2 are mounted, and left and right front wheels 12, 12 are connected to the left and right drive shafts 43, 4 connected to the differential gear 42.
3 driven.

The strut suspension type suspension device has a structure in which a knuckle 46 is swingably supported by a strut type cushion unit 44 having one end connected to the vehicle body frame 10 and a swing arm 45. The axle 47, the hub, and the front wheel 12 are rotatably supported via bearings provided on the vehicle. Both ends of the drive shaft 43 are connected to the differential gear 42 and the axle 47 via ball joints (not shown). Dust-proof rubber boots 48 are mounted on these ball joints.

The front wheels 12, 12 of this embodiment serve both as driving wheels and steering wheels (steering wheels). Therefore, the knuckle 46 is supported so as to be swingable about a kingpin shaft 49. The steering operation (rotation) of the steering shaft 14 (FIG. 1) is transmitted to the knuckle 46 via a tie rod (not shown).

1, 3, 4 and 5, the front wheels 12, 12 are located on the left and right sides of the front portion of the body frame 10.
Mud plates 50, 50 for preventing muddy water, dust, etc., which are thrown up by the front wheels 12, 12, from entering the inside of the vehicle body, are attached to a region corresponding to the inside of the vehicle. The mudproof plates 50, 50 are made of, for example, molded products of plastic or sheet metal. Further, each of the mud plates 50 is provided with a front wheel 1.
2 is detachably attached by fastening means such as bolts so as to form a substantially vertical wall surface in the front-rear direction along the side surface of the body frame corresponding to the inside of the front wheel 12 inside the front fender 23 covering the upper and rear portions of the front wheel 2. Have been.

FIG. 6 is a front view of the mudguard plate 50, and FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 7-7 in FIG. The front part of the vehicle body including the left and right mudguard plates 50 and 50 has substantially the same shape and structure as the left and right sides. Hereinafter, only one of the left and right sides (for example, the left side) will be described, and the other side will be described. The explanation will be applied mutatis mutandis. Therefore, according to the present invention, the mud plate 50 is divided into front and rear divided mud plates 51.
And a rear mud plate 52, and the front and rear mud plates 51 and 52 are detachably attached to the vehicle body frame 10 by fastening means such as bolts.

The above-mentioned front and rear mud plates 51 and 52 are
Each is fastened to the vehicle body frame 10 by a bolt or the like, and is connected to each other in a tight state by fastening means 55 such as a bolt along the divided area 54. As shown in FIG. 6, a notch (opening) 56 for penetrating the drive shaft 43 and a bracket (frame member) 57 for connecting the cushion unit 44 are formed in the mudguard plate 50 of the front and rear split type. Notches (openings) 58 for penetrating through are formed.

Further, at least one of the front and rear mudguard plates 51, 52 is provided with an overhanging portion for covering a member existing outside the frame 10. That is, in the present embodiment, the drive shaft 43 is selected as a member existing outside the above-described frame 10, and one of the front and rear mudguard plates 51 and 52 (the front mudguard plate 51 in the present embodiment).
The drive shaft 43 is provided with a projecting portion 53 shaped to cover the front side of the boot protection portion 48 of the ball joint portion. The overhang portion 53 does not necessarily need to be integrally formed with the mud-proof plate 50, but may be integrally fixed to the mud-proof plate by appropriately welding or screwing. Further, not only the front mudguard plate 51 but also the rear mudguard plate 52 may be provided with an overhang.

According to the embodiment described above, the mudguard plate 50 attached to the inside of the left and right front wheels 12 is divided into front and rear portions, and each can be detachably attached to the front and rear mudguard plates 51 and 52.
Therefore, even when the mud plate 50 interferes with other components (for example, the drive shaft 43 and the bracket 57), the size of the notch (for example, the notch 56, 58) is minimized. This makes it possible to significantly reduce the gap formed when the anti-sludge plate 50 is mounted, thereby greatly reducing or preventing intrusion of muddy water and dust into the vehicle body. It becomes possible.

Further, since the prevention mud plate 50 is divided into front and rear parts, it is possible to improve the assemblability and maintenance and inspection of the mud prevention plate 50 itself and its surrounding components. Further, since a projecting portion 53 of a shape covering the front side of the boot protection portion 48 of the ball joint portion of the drive shaft 43 is provided on the front mud plate 51 or the rear mud plate 52, the drive which is an important functional component with a simple structure is provided. Pebbles, mud, twigs, etc. can be prevented from directly hitting the shaft 43,
These functional components can be protected.

FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view including a front axle corresponding to FIG. 4 and showing another embodiment of a vehicle body front structure of a saddle type four-wheel uneven terrain vehicle to which the present invention is applied, and FIG. FIG. 9 is a perspective view of a saddle-ride type four-wheel uneven terrain vehicle seen through the vehicle body front structure of FIG. 8. In the present embodiment, the left and right front wheels 12, 12 are connected to the body frame 1 by a double wishbone type suspension device.
It is independently suspended on each side of the front of the 0. The left and right wheels are driven by the engine 11 (FIG. 1) by the front propeller shaft 41 (FIG. 1), the differential gear 42, and the left and right drive shafts 43,43.

In the double wishbone type suspension device, the knuckle 64 is swingably supported by a link mechanism comprising an swingable upper arm 62 and a lower arm 63 connected at one end to the body frame 10. The shock absorber 61 attached between the upper arm 10 and the upper arm 62 carries the front wheel load. In this embodiment, the tip of the drive shaft 43 is connected to an axle member 65 via a ball joint (not shown), and the axle member 65 is rotatably connected to the inner diameter of the knuckle 64 via a bearing. It is pivoted.

Also in this embodiment, the drive shaft 4
3 are connected to the differential gear 42 and the front wheel 12 via ball joints (not shown). Dust-proof rubber boots 48 are mounted on these ball joints. The front wheels 12, 12 of this embodiment also serve as driving wheels and steering wheels (steering wheels). Therefore, the knuckle 64 is supported so as to be swingable about the kingpin shaft 49, and the steering shaft 14 The steering operation (rotation) shown in FIG. 1 is transmitted to the knuckle 64 via a tie rod (not shown).

8 and 9, the body frame 10
Mudguard plates 50 for preventing muddy water, dust, etc., which are thrown up by the front wheels 12, 12, from entering the inside of the vehicle body, in regions corresponding to the inside of the front wheels 12, 12 on both left and right sides of the front of the vehicle. 50 are attached. This mud plate 5
Reference numerals 0 and 50 are made of, for example, molded products of plastic or sheet metal. Further, the mud plates 50, 50 are
It is detachably attached to both sides of the “0” by fastening means such as bolts.

FIG. 10 is a front view of the mud plate 50, and FIG.
1 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 11-11 in FIG. The front part of the vehicle body including the left and right mudguard plates 50, 50 has substantially the same shape structure on both the left and right sides. Hereinafter, only one of the left and right sides (for example, the left side) will be described, and the other side will be described. I will apply mutatis mutandis. Also in this embodiment, the mud plate 50 includes a front mud plate 51 and a rear mud plate 52 which are divided into front and rear portions, and the front and rear mud plates 51, 52 are fastened to the vehicle body frame 10 by fastening means such as bolts. It is structured so that it can be detachably attached.

The front mudguard plate 51 and the rear mudguard plate 52 are respectively fastened to the vehicle body frame 10 with bolts or the like.
In these overlapping regions 66, they are closely connected to each other by fastening means 55 such as bolts. As shown in FIG. 10, a cutout portion 56 for allowing the drive shaft 43 to penetrate,
Notches (opening) 67 for penetrating the shock absorber 61 and notches 68 for penetrating the upper arm 62 are formed.

At least one of the front and rear mud plates 51, 52 is provided with an overhang for covering members existing outside the frame 10. That is, in the present embodiment, a shock absorber 61 is selected in addition to the drive shaft 43 as a member existing outside the above-described frame 10, and the boot protection portion 48 of the ball joint portion of the drive shaft 43 is provided on the front mud plate 51. An overhanging portion 53 having a shape that covers the front side of the rear mudguard plate 5 is provided.
2 is provided with an overhang portion 69 having a shape covering the shock absorber 61.

In the construction shown in the figure, the overhang 69 for covering the shock absorber 61 is
The shock absorber 61 is formed in an overlapping area between the first and the rear mudguards 52. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 11, the shock absorber 61 is entirely surrounded by both the front and rear mudguards 51 and 52. Covered. Further, the overhang portions 53 and 69 may be provided by being integrally formed as shown in the figure, or may be fixedly (integrally) attached by welding or bolting.

According to the embodiment described with reference to FIGS. 8 to 11, the mud plate 50 attached to the inside of the left and right front wheels 12 is also provided.
Is divided into front and rear parts, each of which is composed of a detachable front mudguard plate 51 and a rear mudguard plate 52, so that the mudguard plate 50 interferes with other components (for example, the drive shaft 43 and the shock absorber 61). However, the size of the notch (for example, the notch 56, 67, 68) can be minimized, thereby significantly reducing the gap formed when the mud barrier 50 is mounted. It is possible to greatly reduce or prevent intrusion of muddy water and dust into the vehicle body.

Further, since the mudguard plate 50 is divided into front and rear parts, it is possible to improve the assemblability and maintenance and inspection of the mudguard plate 50 itself and its surrounding components. Further, the mud-proof plate 50 is provided with an overhang portion 53 shaped to cover the front side of the boot protection portion 48 of the ball joint portion of the drive shaft 43 and an overhang portion 69 shaped to cover the outside of the shock absorber 61. Pebbles, mud, twigs, and the like can be prevented from directly hitting the drive shaft 43 and the shock absorber 61, which are important functional components in the structure, and these functional components can be protected.

[0037]

As is apparent from the above description, according to the invention of claim 1 (the front structure of the vehicle body of the saddle type four-wheel uneven terrain vehicle), the inside of the front fender covering the upper part and the rear part of the front wheel is provided. A mudguard attached so as to form a substantially vertical wall surface in the front-rear direction along the side surface of the body frame corresponding to the inside of the front wheel, wherein the mudguard is a front mudguard and a rear mudguard. And at least one of the front and rear mudguards is integrally provided with an overhanging portion for covering members existing outside the side surfaces of the vehicle body frame and inside the front wheels. Even when it interferes with other members, the size of the notch can be minimized to reduce the gap formed in the mudguard plate, thereby reducing the intrusion of mud and dust into the vehicle body. Or can be blocked,
Further, it is possible to protect the functional component by preventing pebbles, mud, twigs and the like from directly hitting the functional component exposed outside the vehicle body frame and inside the front wheel. A vehicle body front structure of a saddle-ride type four-wheel uneven terrain vehicle capable of improving the assemblability of its peripheral members is provided.

According to the second and third aspects of the present invention, in addition to the configuration of the first aspect, the member existing outside the side surface of the body frame and inside the front wheel is a drive shaft, and the front and rear mudguard plates are provided. A structure in which one side is provided with a projecting portion that covers the front side of the drive shaft, or a member that is outside the side surface of the body frame and inside the front wheel is a shock absorber, and is provided on one of the front and rear mudguard plates. The vehicle front structure of a saddle-ride type four-wheel uneven terrain vehicle capable of efficiently protecting the drive shaft or the shock absorber in addition to the above-described effects, in addition to the above-described effects, because the overhanging portion is formed to cover the outside of the shock absorber. Is provided.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a left side view of an embodiment of a saddle type four-wheel uneven terrain vehicle having a vehicle body front structure to which the present invention is applied.

FIG. 2 is a plan view of the saddle type four-wheel uneven terrain vehicle shown in FIG.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a vehicle body frame of the saddle type four-wheel uneven terrain vehicle shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view including the front wheel axle taken along line 4-4 in FIG.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing a vehicle body front structure of the saddle-ride type four-wheel uneven terrain vehicle shown in FIG.

FIG. 6 is a front view of the mudguard plate in FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is a sectional view taken along lines 7-7 in FIG. 6;

FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view including a front axle showing another embodiment of a vehicle body front structure of a saddle type four-wheel uneven terrain vehicle to which the present invention is applied.

9 is a perspective view of the saddle-ride type four-wheel uneven terrain vehicle seen through the vehicle body front structure of FIG. 8;

FIG. 10 is a front view of the mudguard plate in FIG. 9;

FIG. 11 is a sectional view taken along lines 11-11 in FIG. 10;

[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 27 Vaporizer 29 Air cleaner 30 Intake duct 41 Front propeller shaft 42 Differential gear 43 Drive shaft 44 Cushion unit 45 Swing arm 46 Knuckle 47 Axle 48 Rubber boot 50 Rubber plate 51 Mud plate 51 Front mud plate 52 Rear mud plate 53 Overhang 56 Notch 57 Bracket 58 Notch 61 Shock absorber 62 Upper arm 63 Lower arm 64 Knuckle 65 Axle member 67 Notch 68 Notch 69 Overhang

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continuation of the front page (56) References JP-A-62-20772 (JP, A) JP-A-61-77574 (JP, A) Jiko 4-39462 (JP, Y2) Jiko Sho-61 22068 (JP, Y2) Jikken 63-27032 (JP, Y2) (58) Fields investigated (Int. Cl. ⁶ , DB name) B62J 15/00 B62K 5/00

Claims (3)

(57) [Claims] 1. A mudguard plate attached to a front fender covering an upper portion and a rear portion of a front wheel so as to form a substantially vertical wall surface in the front-rear direction along a side surface of a body frame corresponding to the inside of the front wheel. For dividing the mudguard plate into a front mudguard plate and a rear mudguard plate, and covering at least one of the front and rear mudguard plates with a member existing outside the side surface of the vehicle body frame and inside the front wheel. A vehicle body front structure for a saddle-ride type four-wheel uneven terrain vehicle, wherein an overhang portion is provided integrally. 2. A member which is present outside the side surface of the vehicle body frame and inside the front wheel is a drive shaft,
2. The vehicle body front structure of a saddle-ride type four-wheel uneven terrain vehicle according to claim 1, wherein a projecting portion having a shape covering a front side of the drive shaft is provided on one of the front and rear mud plates. 3. A member existing outside the side surface of the vehicle body frame and inside the front wheel is a shock absorber, and one of the front and rear mudguard plates is provided with a projecting portion that covers the outside of the shock absorber. The vehicle body front structure of a saddle-ride type four-wheel uneven terrain vehicle according to claim 1.