JP4149338B2 - Steering damper device - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a steering damper device.

As a steering damper device assembled in a vehicle such as a motorcycle, when a vane that divides the oil chamber into two in the housing is swung, hydraulic oil flows between the two oil chambers to generate a damping force, The shaft includes a shaft that supports the vane so that the vane can swing relative to the housing while the base portion of the vane is fixedly connected. The housing and the shaft are disposed above the head pipe, and the rear portion of the housing is a fuel. The thing accommodated in the recessed part formed in the tank front-end part is proposed (for example, refer patent document 1).
Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2003-104269 (see page 2, FIG. 2)

  In the steering damper device described in the above publication, a steering damper itself including a housing and a shaft, and a connecting portion between the steering damper and a steering system member are exposed to the outside. Further, the place where the steering damper device is arranged is the center of the front part of the vehicle body above the head pipe, which is one of the most conspicuous parts for the vehicle, and the appearance of this part is impaired by the arrangement of the steering damper. There was a problem of being.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to provide a steering damper device whose appearance is not impaired.

In order to solve the above-mentioned problem, the steering damper device according to claim 1 is configured such that the hydraulic oil flows between the two oil chambers when the vane that divides the oil chamber into two in the housing is oscillated. And a steering damper device having a shaft that pivotally supports the vane with respect to the housing while the base portion of the vane is connected in a fixed state . is disposed above, as well as supporting the housing to the vehicle body frame, the lower of the housing is protruded to the lower end of said shaft, connecting the base end portion of the arm to the projecting portion of the shaft, the tip of the arm parts are connected to a member of the steering system-side in front of the housing, a housing cover for covering the housing body frame or Attached to Ujingu, attaching an arm cover for covering said arm member or arm of the steering link system side, the housing cover plate portion before having covered and an opening in the bottom center of the front of the housing, the front portion of the housing A pair of left and right side plates respectively covering the left and right sides of the housing, and an upper plate portion covering the upper front portion of the housing. The arm cover includes a front plate portion covering the front of the arm and a pair of left and right sides covering the sides of the arm. The left and right side plate portions of the arm cover extend rearward in an arc shape so as to go outside the swing center of the steering system side member. The outer surface of the rearward extension portion is an arc surface having the same center as the swing center of the steering system side member, and the rear end portion of the upper plate portion of the arm cover and Rearwardly extending portion of the right side plate portion, characterized in that it is inserted from the opening of the front plate portion of the housing cover to the inside thereof to fit into the housing cover.

A steering damper device according to a second aspect is the one according to the first aspect, wherein the arm cover is fixed to a member on the steering system side by a fastening means in the vicinity of a member mounting portion on the steering system side of the arm, The portion covered by the housing cover is locked to a steering system side member by a locking means .

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the steering damper device according to the second aspect , the left and right side plate portions of the arm cover extend to the rear of the swing center of the steering system side member, and the rear extension portion is behind. The end portion is formed with a tongue-like portion that is locked to the locking means .

According to the present invention , since the housing and the arm are respectively covered with the housing cover and the arm cover, the housing and the arm, which are components of the steering damper, are not exposed to the outside, and the appearance is not impaired.
In addition, since the cover is divided into a part that can be attached to a member on the body frame side that is a fixed side and a part that is attached to a member on the steering system side that is a movable side, a steering damper having a movable element is relatively Can be covered with a small cover.

According to the present invention , when the steering system side member swings with respect to the body frame side member, the housing cover and the arm cover move relative to each other. Since at least one of the surfaces is a circular arc surface having the same center as the swing center, the overlapping mode of the covers does not change. As a result, the gap between the covers can be kept constant regardless of the swing position of the member on the steering system side. From this, the gap between the covers can be set small in advance.

According to the present invention , since the arm cover is attached to the member on the steering system side by the two fixing means of the fastening means and the locking means, a strong fixation can be realized. In addition, since the portion covered by the housing cover is a simple fixing means that is locked by the locking means, the arm cover can be easily attached and the appearance can be improved.

  A motorcycle equipped with a steering damper device according to the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. In the description, descriptions of directions such as front and rear and left and right are based on the body of the motorcycle.

  As shown in FIG. 1, a motorcycle 1 is provided with a vehicle body frame 2 substantially in the center, and a head pipe 3 provided at the front end of the vehicle body frame 2 has a front fork 5 that supports the front wheels 4 via a steering stem 6. And can be steered. A pair of left and right main pipes 7 are provided so as to extend obliquely rearward and downward from the head pipe 3 of the vehicle body frame 2 and then extend downward via a bent portion. A pivot portion 8 is provided at a substantially central front end portion of the portion extending downward of the main pipe 7, and the pivot portion 8 supports a rear fork 10 that supports the rear wheel 9 in a swingable manner. Further, a rear cushion 11 and a link portion 12 are interposed between the rear fork 10 and the main pipe 7, and the swing angle of the rear fork 10 is determined by a mechanism in which the rear cushion 11 and the link portion 12 are combined. As the value increases, the damper effect gradually increases.

  A seat frame 13 is connected to the rear of the main pipe 7. A fuel tank 14 is disposed above the main pipe 7, and a water-cooled parallel four-cylinder engine body 15 is disposed below the main pipe 7. An engine hanger extends downward from the front portion of the main pipe 7, and the engine hanger supports the engine body 15 together with other mounting parts for supporting the engine body provided on the main pipe 7.

A driver's seat 17 and a passenger's pillion seat 18 are respectively supported by the seat frame 13 behind the fuel tank 14. A driver step 19 is attached to the rear portion of the pivot portion 8 of the vehicle body frame 2, and a passenger step 20 is attached to the lower portion of the seat frame 13. Further, a pair of left and right handles 21, 21 are attached to the upper end portion of the front fork 5.
The front part of the motorcycle 1 is covered with a front cowl 25, and the periphery of the seat frame 13 is covered with a rear cowl 26. In addition, a retractable side stand is disposed at the lower left portion of the vehicle body frame 2, and the vehicle body of the motorcycle 1 can be supported in an upright state inclined to the left side by the side stand.

A brake caliper is attached to the lower end portion of the front fork 5, and a brake rotor corresponding to the brake caliper is attached to the front wheel 4 to constitute a front brake device. A front fender 31 that covers the upper portion of the front wheel 4 is attached to the lower end of the front fork 5.
A rear sprocket 32 is attached to the left side of the rear wheel 9 so as to rotate integrally with the rear wheel 9, and a drive chain 34 is connected to the rear sprocket 32 and a drive sprocket 33 disposed on the left side of the rear portion of the engine body 15. The driving force of the engine body 15 is transmitted to the rear wheel 9 by being hung around. A rear rear fender 36 that covers the upper rear side of the rear wheel 9 is attached to the lower portion of the rear cowl 26. The rear fork 10 is provided with a rear brake device having the same configuration as the front brake device of the front wheel 4.

  The cylinder body 40 of the engine body 15 is disposed on the crankcase 41 in a slightly tilted state. A throttle body 42 corresponding to each cylinder is connected to a rear portion of the cylinder body 40, and each throttle body 42 is connected to an air cleaner case 43 disposed between the main pipe 7 and the fuel tank 14. An exhaust pipe 44 corresponding to each cylinder is connected to the front portion of the cylinder body 40. The exhaust pipe 44 extends from the front wall of the cylinder body 40 to the front and then curves downward, and extends to the rear of the engine body 15 through the front and the bottom of the crankcase 41.

  The steering stem 6, the top bridge 49 disposed parallel to the bottom bridge above the bottom bridge of the steering stem 6, the handle 21, and the like constitute a steering system 50 that steers the front wheels 4. A steering damper device 51 is interposed between the steering system 50 and the vehicle body frame 2 (see FIGS. 2 and 3).

As shown in FIG. 4, the steering damper device 51 includes a steering damper main body 52 and a cover 53 that covers the steering damper main body 52, a lower end of the rear end of the meter 80 disposed in front of the head pipe 3, and a key. The cylinder 81 is assembled to the vehicle body so as to be positioned below the line L connecting the upper front end of the cylinder 81 (see FIG. 1).
The steering damper main body 52 absorbs vibrations in a low steering angle region due to road surface disturbance during high-speed traveling by a hydraulic buffer mechanism provided therein. Usually, there are two types, a rod type and a rotary type. Here, a rotary type steering damper main body, which is excellent in terms of compactness, is used.

2 and 4, the steering damper main body 52 has a housing 55 composed of a main body 55A and a lid 55B, a vane 56 that divides the oil chamber into two in the housing 55, and a base portion of the vane 56 fixed. A shaft 57 that supports the vane 56 so as to be swingable with respect to the housing 55, and an arm 58 that is connected to a protruding portion of the shaft 57 that protrudes downward from the housing 55.
The housing 55 is attached to the gusset portion 3b of the head pipe 3 which is a member on the body frame 2 side via a steering stay 59, and the arm 58 is connected to the top bridge 49 which is a member on the steering system side via a link mechanism 60. It attaches with the attaching part 60a.

  In the steering damper main body 52, when the handle 21 is turned to the left or right, the top bridge 49 rotates integrally with the handle 21, and the movement is transmitted to the shaft 57 via the link mechanism 60 and the arm 58. The vane 56 is rotated in a predetermined direction. Along with this, the two oil chamber capacities in the housing 55 change. At this time, the hydraulic oil moves in an oil passage communicating between the two oil chambers, and the passage resistance of this hydraulic oil acts on the handle 21 as a resistance force during rotation. As a result, vibration and vibration of the handle 21 are absorbed. It is supposed to be.

  As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the cover 53 includes a housing cover 53 </ b> A that covers the front half of the housing 55 and an arm cover 53 </ b> B that covers the arm 58. The housing cover 53A is fixed to a housing 55 that is a body frame side member (fixed side member), and the arm cover 53B is fixed to a top bridge 49 that is a steering system side member (movable side member).

  As shown in FIGS. 5 to 7, the housing cover 53 </ b> A includes a front plate portion 62 that covers the front of the housing 55 and has an opening 62 a at the center of the lower portion, and a pair of left and right side plate portions that respectively cover the left and right sides of the front portion of the housing 55. 63, 63, and an upper plate portion 65 that covers the upper portion of the front portion of the housing 55. The upper plate portion 65 is made of, for example, a resin material by integral molding. Concave portions 66 are formed at two positions on the left and right sides of the upper plate portion 65, and bolt insertion holes 67 are formed in the concave portions 66. The housing cover 53 </ b> A is fixed to the housing 55 by screwing the tip of the bolt 68 inserted into the bolt insertion hole 67 into the upper surface of the housing 55. When the housing cover 53A is fixed to the housing 55 by the bolt 68, the head of the bolt 68 is housed in the recess 66, so that the top of the head does not protrude from the upper surface of the housing cover 53A. It is almost flush with the top surface.

  As shown in FIGS. 8 and 9, the arm cover 53 </ b> B has a pair of left and right covers that cover the sides of the front plate portion 70 that covers the front of the arm 58 and the link mechanism 60, the arm 58 and the link mechanism 60, and the downward projecting portion of the shaft 57. The side plate portions 71 and 71, the arm 58, and the upper plate portion 73 that covers the upper side of the link mechanism 60 are provided, and are made by integral molding using, for example, a resin material. A bolt engaging portion 74 having an insertion hole is provided at the lower end portion of the front plate portion 70 so as to protrude forward in the left and right directions, and tongue portions 75 and 75 are provided at the lower end rear portions of the left and right side plate portions 71 and 71, respectively. Is formed to protrude rearward. The portions where the tongue portions 75 are provided are portions that are covered with the housing cover 53A when the arm cover 53B is fixed at a normal position with respect to the top bridge 49. The arm cover 53B has 75 on the left and right tongues, and is latched by a U-shaped locking part (locking means) 49a standing on the top bridge 49, and a bolt (fastening means) 77 is connected to the bolt. It is inserted into the insertion hole of the joint portion 74, and the tip thereof is screwed into the top bridge 49, thereby being fixed to the top bridge 49 (see FIG. 10).

  An arcuate surface 78 is formed at the rear end portion of the side plate portion 71 of the arm cover 53B and the mating surface with the housing cover 53A. The arc surface 78 is formed to have the same center P as the center of swinging of the members of the steering system 50, for example, the top bridge 49 and the handle, when the arm cover 53B is fixed at the normal position of the top bridge 49. (See FIG. 10). Further, when the arm cover 53B is fixed at a normal position of the top bridge 49, the upper plate portion 73 of the arm cover 53B and the rear end portions of the side plate portions 71 and 71 are seen in a plan view as shown in FIG. The housing cover 53A is inserted inward from the opening 62a of the front plate portion 62 so as to be accommodated in the housing cover 53A.

Next, the operation of the steering damper device assembled in the motorcycle having the above configuration will be described.
According to the steering damper device 51 configured as described above, the front half of the housing 55, in particular, the front portion of the mating portion of the main body 55A and the lid 55B of the housing 55 is covered with the housing cover 53A and protrudes downward from the housing 55. Since the projecting portion of the shaft 57, the arm 58 connected to the shaft 57, and the link mechanism 60 connected to the shaft 57 are covered with the arm cover 53B, dust and rainwater that receive wind pressure while the vehicle is running are substantially at the front side of the housing 55. It is possible not to hit the half and the arm 58 directly.
Further, the housing 55 and the arm 58, which are constituent members of the steering damper main body 52, are not exposed to the outside, and the appearance is not impaired.

  Further, the cover 53 that covers the steering damper main body 52 is divided into a housing cover 53A that is attached to a member on the body frame side that is a fixed side, and an arm cover 53B that is a portion attached to a member on the steering system side that is a movable side. Therefore, the steering damper 52 having the movable element can be covered with a relatively small cover.

  Further, when the steering system side member, for example, the handle 21 or the top bridge 49 swings, the arm cover 53B also swings following this, but there is a steering system side member at the rear end of the arm cover 53B. Since the circular arc surface 78 having the same center P as the swing center is formed, the gap between the covers 53A and 53B can be set small in advance. That is, the gap between the arc surface 78 of the side plate portion 71 of the arm cover 53B and the wall surface 62b of the front plate portion of the housing cover 53A that faces the side surface portion 71 can be set small.

The above embodiment is merely an example of the present invention, and the design can be changed as appropriate without departing from the gist of the invention as necessary.
For example, in the above-described embodiment, the housing cover 53A is a member on the vehicle body frame side because the housing 55 is attached to the member on the vehicle body frame side that is the fixed side and the arm 58 is attached to the member on the steering system side that is the movable side. The arm cover 53B is attached to the steering system side member. Conversely, when the housing 55 is attached to the steering system side member and the arm 58 is attached to the vehicle body frame side member, the housing cover 53A is adjusted accordingly. Is attached to the steering system side member, and the arm cover 53B is attached to the vehicle body frame side member.

In the above-described embodiment, the housing cover 53A is attached to the housing 55, but may be attached to the head pipe 3 or the steering damper stage 59. Further, the arm cover 53B may be directly attached to the arm 58 instead of the top bridge 49.
In the above-described embodiment, the arc surface 78 is provided at the rear end of the arm cover 53B. Conversely, the center of the housing cover 53A is the same as the center of swing of the steering system at the mating portion with the arm cover 53B. A circular arc surface may be formed.

1 is a side view of a motorcycle including a steering damper device showing an embodiment of the present invention. It is a top view which shows the attachment state of a steering damper main body. It is a top view explaining the attachment state of the cover of a steering damper device. It is a side view explaining the attachment state of the cover of a steering damper device. It is a top view of a housing cover. It is a front view of a housing cover. It is a sectional side view of a housing cover. It is a top view of an arm cover. It is a sectional side view of an arm cover. (A) is a top view explaining the attachment state of an arm cover, (b) is sectional drawing which follows the XX line of (a).

Explanation of symbols

1 Motorcycle 2 Body frame 3 Head pipe 42 Throttle body 49a U-shaped locking part (locking means)
50 Steering system 51 Steering damper device 52 Steering damper main body 53 Cover 53A Housing cover 53B Arm cover 55 Housing 57 Shaft 58 Arm 77 Bolt (fastening means)
78 Arc surface

Claims (3)

When the vane that divides the oil chamber into two in the housing is oscillated, the hydraulic oil flows between the two oil chambers to generate a damping force, and the base of the vane is connected to the housing while being fixed. In a steering damper device having a shaft for swingably supporting the vane,
The housing is disposed above the head pipe of the vehicle body frame, the housing is supported by the vehicle body frame, and the lower end portion of the shaft protrudes below the housing , and the base end of the arm is projected to the protruding portion of the shaft. part connecting the distal end of the arm is connected to a member of the steering system-side in front of the housing,
Attaching a housing cover for covering the housing to the vehicle body frame or housing, attaching an arm cover for covering said arm member or arm of the steering link system side,
The housing cover includes a front plate portion covering the front of the housing and having an opening at a lower center, a pair of left and right side plate portions covering the left and right sides of the front portion of the housing, and an upper plate portion covering the upper front portion of the housing. With
The arm cover includes a front plate portion covering the front of the arm, a pair of left and right side plate portions covering the sides of the arm, and an upper plate portion covering the upper side of the arm,
The left and right side plate portions of the arm cover extend rearward in an arc shape so as to wrap around the outside of the swing center of the steering system side member, and the outer surface of the rearward extension portion is on the steering system side. It is an arc surface having the same center as the swing center of the member,
The rear end portion of the upper plate portion of the arm cover and the rearward extending portions of the left and right side plate portions are inserted into the housing cover from the opening of the front plate portion so as to be accommodated in the housing cover. Steering damper device.   The arm cover is fixed to the steering system side member by fastening means in the vicinity of the steering system side member mounting portion of the arm, and is locked to the steering system side member at a portion covered by the housing cover. The steering damper device according to claim 1, wherein the steering damper device is locked by the above. The left and right side plate portions of the arm cover extend to the rear of the swing center of the steering system side member, and a tongue-like portion that is locked to the locking means is formed at the rear end portion of the rear extension portion. The steering damper device according to claim 2, wherein the steering damper device is formed.

Images