JPH0362590B2 - - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Field of Industrial Application] The present invention relates to a cowling device for a motorcycle, and particularly to the structure of an under cowl that covers the area around the engine.

[Prior Art] In recent years, there has been a trend for commercial vehicles for general driving to be equipped with cowlings to protect the driver from rain and wind and to reduce air resistance of the vehicle body.
This cowling is a small cowling that is attached to the handlebar and is called a bikini cowl, which is usually attached to the handlebar and covers only the headlamp.
It is broadly divided into frame-mounted full cowlings that continuously cover the area from the headlight area to the engine area. This type of full cowling conventionally includes an under cowl that covers the periphery of the cylinder block and cylinder head of the engine, and an opening for introducing cooling air is provided in the front surface of the under cowl.

[Problem to be solved by the invention] However, when equipped with this full cowling,
Since the under cowl is located close to the side of the cylinder block and cylinder head of the engine, this under cowl gets in the way when performing simple maintenance around the cylinder, such as inspecting the spark plugs, and maintainability is significantly impaired. be.

Furthermore, if the undercowl is present, engine heat tends to be trapped inside the undercowl, which may lead to overheating, especially in the case of an air-cooled engine.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Therefore, an object of the present invention is to maintain good maintainability of the engine even though the engine is surrounded by an undercowl, and to prevent engine heat from being trapped within the undercowl. To obtain a cowling device for a motorcycle, which can improve the rigidity of the undercowl itself and is not stirred or rattled even when subjected to the wind pressure of the running wind.

[Means for Solving the Problems] Therefore, in the present invention, a front opening in front of the engine is provided in an under cowl that continuously covers the circumference of the engine crankcase and the cylinder erected on the crankcase. At the same time, in order to provide side openings that expose the exhaust pipes and spark plugs connected to the cylinders on both the left and right sides of the undercowl adjacent to this front opening, the side shape of the undercowl is made L-shaped when viewed from the right side of the vehicle body. A leg shield is integrally provided on the vertical part of the rear end and protrudes inward, and the front lower parts of the left and right undercowls are connected to each other by a lower connecting fin whose center plane passing through the tip of the fin is inclined with respect to the longitudinal direction of the vehicle body. It is characterized by

[Function] According to this configuration, the engine cylinder area is exposed to the side through the side opening of the under cowl, so inspection of spark plugs and exhaust pipe removal/removal work can be carried out with the under cowl still attached. Able to perform various inspections and adjustments related to the engine. Furthermore, since the sides of the cylinder, which become hot during engine operation, are open, the undercowl has better ventilation than in the past, making it difficult for engine heat to be trapped within the undercowl.

In addition, if the under cowl's side shape is L-shaped when viewed from the right side of the vehicle body, its rigidity will decrease, but since we have provided a leg shield protruding from the vertical part of the under cowl,
The leg shield functions as a reinforcing rib,
Decrease in rigidity can be prevented.

Furthermore, by connecting the lower front end of the under cowl with a lower connecting fin whose central plane passing through the tip of the fin is inclined with respect to the longitudinal direction of the vehicle body, a decrease in the rigidity of the under cowl is prevented, and the lower connecting fin is It acts as a spoiler, so
While the vehicle is running, a downward wind force acts on the fins, and the front lower part of the undercowl receives a downward force from this downward wind force. This downward force suppresses the vibration of the undercowl due to wind pressure while the vehicle is running, thereby improving its safety.

Note that the same effect can be expected even if the direction of the force acting on the lower connecting fin due to wind power is directed upward.

[Example] The present invention will be described below based on an example shown in the drawings.

Figure 1 shows a motorcycle, where 1 is a frame, 2 is a front fork, 3 is a front wheel, 4 is an air-cooled 4-cycle four-cylinder engine, 5 is a seat, and 6 is a front wheel.
is the rear wheel. A synthetic resin cowling 7 according to the present invention is attached to the frame 1. This cowling 7 is a so-called full cowling that integrally covers from the periphery of the headlamp 8 to the cylinder block 9, cylinder head 10, and crankcase 11 of the engine 4.The structure of this cowling 7 will be described below.

That is, 12 is a top cowl, and this top cowl 12 integrally covers the area from the periphery of the headlamp 8 to the upper side of the front fork 2 to the front side of a fuel tank (not shown). As shown in FIG. 4, the atsupaka cowl 12 is divided into two parts, a left cowl 12a and a right cowl 12b, and these left cowl 12a and right cowl 12b are symmetrical. An abutting wall 13 extending below the headlamp 8 is integrally formed at the lower edge of the front end of the left cowl 12a and the right cowl 12b, and the tips of these abutting walls 13 abut each other. It covers the headlamp 8 from below. A hood 14 is bolted between the upper front ends of the left cowl 12a and the right cowl 12b.
4 covers the upper side of the headlamp 8. The front ends of the left cowl 12a, the right cowl 12b, and the hood 14 form a substantially rectangular opening that exposes the front lens 16 of the headlamp 8 on the front surface of the top cowl 12. A rectangular frame-shaped headlamp rim 15 is attached to this opening, and this headlamp rim 15 surrounds the front lens 16 of the headlamp 8.

Further, a colorless and transparent wind screen 17 is superposed on the hood 14. The wind screen 17 is fixed on the hood 14 by inserting resin screws into the overlapping portions of both sides of its front end and the hood 14 and tightening them with nuts from the back side.
The rear end side of 7 draws a smooth curve toward the rear of the hood 14 and extends substantially above the handle 18.

The hood 14 has left and right back mirrors 19 projecting sideways on both sides of the rear end, and therefore, cutouts are provided on both sides of the windscreen 17 to allow the stay portions 19a of the back mirrors 19 to escape. 20 are provided. Further, a bracket 22 having left and right flush lamps 21 is superimposed and fixed on the front end side of the windscreen 17, and this bracket 22 covers the heads of the screws that connect the windscreen 17 and the hood 14. .

Note that a meter hood 23 is attached to the rear end opening of the hood 14.
A meter panel (not shown) equipped with a tachometer and a speedometer is attached to the.

On the other hand, the left cowl 1 that constitutes the Atsupaka cowl 12
The upper edges of the rear ends of the right cowl 2a and the right cowl 12b are connected to the handle 18 from the rear of the left and right flasher lamps 21.
It extends below the grip portion 24 of the fuel tank to the front side of the fuel tank, and panels 26 each having a storage box 25 are attached thereto. In addition, the left cowl 12a and the right cowl 12b
The rear part of the front fork 2 covers from the side the front part of the fuel tank to the vicinity of the upper part of the cylinder head 10 of the engine 4. An oil cooler cover 29 is attached to cover the fixed oil cooler 28.

An under cowl 30 that covers the periphery of the engine 4 is continuously provided below the atsupaka cowl 12. Under cowl 30 has engine 4
A pair of left and right side panels 3 that cover the
It has 0a and 30b. These side panel portions 30a and 30b are bilaterally symmetrical, and a cooling air inlet 31 as a front opening opening to the front surface of the engine 4 is formed between their front ends. The lower front ends of the side panel parts 30a and 30b extend to the lower front of the exhaust pipe 32 led out from the front of the crankcase 11 and cylinder head 10 of the engine 4, and this extension part 33 extends below the exhaust pipe 32. It goes around to A lower connecting fin 34 is installed between the front end portions of the extension portion 33, and the center plane passing through the tip of the fin is inclined with respect to the longitudinal direction of the vehicle body. The lower connecting fin 34 is located below the cooling air inlet 31 and crosses the exhaust pipe 32 and the front of the crankcase 11 from side to side.
4, the left and right side panel parts 30a, 30b
The lower ends of the two are connected to each other.

The portions of the side panel portions 30a, 30b located on the sides of the cylinder head 10 and cylinder block 9, that is, both left and right side surfaces of the under cowl 30, are cut out toward the rear, and this cutout 35 is used to introduce the cooling air. It constitutes a side opening connected to the mouth 31. Therefore, in this embodiment, the left and right sides of the cooling air inlet 31 extend to the sides of the cylinder block 9 and cylinder head 10, so that when the motorcycle is viewed from the side, Through the notch 35, not only the cylinder block 9 and cylinder head 10, but also the spark plug 36 and the plug cap 37 that covers it can be inserted.
The exhaust pipe 32 and the like are exposed laterally. Further, the rear end edges of the side panel portions 30a and 30b are connected to the rear end edge of the atsupaka cowl 12 and are integrally extended inward, and this extended portion is connected to the leg shield 3 that covers the driver's legs from the front.
8.

Note that a through hole 40 through which the crankcase cover 39 faces is provided in the side panel portions 30a, 30b.

Furthermore, the area from the fuel tank to the lower front end of the seat 5 is covered by a pair of body covers 41 that can be disassembled into left and right sides. The front end of the body cover 41 is extended to a position that covers the fuel tank from the side, and a top plate part 42 that covers the upper surface of the fuel tank is integrally provided at the upper end of this extended part. The top plate portion 42 is abutted on the upper surface of the fuel tank, and an escape recess 44 is formed at this abutting edge, through which a tank cap 43 of the fuel tank is passed. And the top plate part 4
A tank cap cover 46 that covers the tank cap 43 is attached between the top surfaces of the tank cap 2 via a bracket 45 so as to be openable and closable, and a tank pad 47 is continuously provided on the tank cap cover 46. Therefore, the abutting portion of the top plate portion 42 is hidden by the tank cap cover 46 and tank pad 47.

Further, a portion of the body cover 41 located below the seat 5 extends downward and is surrounded by the rear space of the carburetor 48 and the engine 4, that is, the backstay 49 of the frame 1 and a seat plate tube (not shown). It covers a triangular space from the side, and an inspection window 50 is provided in the part facing the carburetor 48. Further, a sheet 5 is provided at the rear end of the body cover 41.
A tail cowl 51 is continuously provided to cover the lower rear side periphery, and a tail lamp 52 is integrated into the rear end of the seat 5.

According to such a configuration, the side panel portions 30a of the under cowl 30 that cover the sides of the engine 4,
30b, a cooling air inlet 31 in front of the engine 4
Since the cutout 35 is provided, the cylinder block 9 and cylinder head 10 of the engine 4 can be widely opened forward and laterally even when the undercowl 30 remains attached to the frame 1. Therefore, for example, the spark plug 3 can be
Simple daily maintenance work around the engine 4, such as inspection and replacement of parts 6 and installation/removal of the exhaust pipe 32, can be performed, so there is no need to remove the under cowling 30 each time the work is done, and maintenance is easy even though it is a full cowling. It is possible to maintain good health.

Also, cylinder block 9 and cylinder head 1
Since the side of 0 is open, under cowl 3
0 has improved internal ventilation, and this under cowl 3
It becomes difficult for the heat of the engine 4 to stay inside the 0. Therefore, since the cooling performance of the engine 4 is not impaired, overheating and the like can be prevented, which is particularly advantageous when the engine 4 is air-cooled as in this embodiment.

In addition, a lower connecting fin 34 is installed at the lower end of the side panel portions 30a, 30b, so that the lower connecting fin 34 crosses the lower front side of the crankcase 11 and the exhaust pipe 32. These side panel parts 3 function as cross members that connect each other.
Compared to the case where 0a and 30b are left and right independently,
The rigidity of the under cowl 30 itself is improved. Therefore, even when the side panel portions 30a and 30b receive wind pressure from the traveling wind, they will not be stirred or rattled.
This has the advantage that the original function of the under cowl 30 is not impaired.

In the above embodiment, both the upper cowl and the under cowl are of the left-right split type, but the left-right and left-right cowls may be integrated.

Furthermore, the engine covered by the undercowl is not limited to an air-cooled type, but may be a water-cooled type. In this case, a radiator is placed at the cold air inlet, but the side of the engine is opened through a notch. Therefore, maintainability is not compromised.

Furthermore, since the center plane of the lower connecting fin, which passes through the tip of the fin, is inclined with respect to the front-rear direction of the vehicle body, while driving, downward or upward wind force acts on the fin, and this downward or upward force is applied to the lower connecting fin. The front lower part of the under cowl receives a force that pushes it downward or upward due to the wind force. Even if the side panel portions 30a, 30b are subjected to the wind pressure of the traveling wind due to this force, they are not stirred or rattled, and there is an advantage that the stability of the under cowl 30 can be improved.

[Effects of the Invention] According to the present invention described in detail above, even when the undercowl is still installed, the area around the cylinder is widely opened forward and sideways, making it easy to replace or inspect spark plugs, or clean the exhaust pipe. Easy daily inspection work around the engine, such as installation and removal work, can be done without removing the under cowl, improving work efficiency accordingly.

In addition, since the area around the cylinder, which gets hot during engine operation, is opened to the side, ventilation inside the under cowl is improved, making it difficult for engine heat to stay inside the under cowl, preventing engine overheating, etc. It can be prevented.

At the same time, by providing a leg shield protruding from the rear end of the under cowl and connecting the lower ends of both left and right sides of the under cowl with a lower connecting fin, the under cowl itself is The rigidity and stability against wind pressure have been improved, so even if both the left and right sides are subjected to wind pressure from the traveling wind, they will not be stirred or rattled.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

The drawings show one embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 1 is a side view of the motorcycle, FIG. 2 is a front view, FIG. 3 is a plan view, and FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view of a cowling. 4... Engine, 7... Cowling, 9... Cylinder block, 10... Cylinder head, 11
...Crank case, 30...Under cowl, 3
0a, 30b...Side panel part, 31...Front opening (cooling air inlet), 32...Exhaust pipe, 34
... lower connecting fin, 35 ... side opening (notch), 36 ... spark plug.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. In the under cowl that continuously covers the circumference of the engine crankcase and the cylinders erected on the crank case, a front opening is provided in front of the engine, and a front opening is provided on both left and right sides of the under cowl adjacent to this front opening. In order to provide a side opening that exposes the exhaust pipe and spark plug connected to the cylinder, the side surface of the under cowl is L-shaped when viewed from the right side of the vehicle body, and a leg shield is integrally provided inwardly protruding from the vertical part of the rear end. A cowling device for a motorcycle, characterized in that the front lower portions of left and right undercowls are connected to each other by a lower connecting fin whose central plane passing through the tips of the fins is inclined with respect to the longitudinal direction of the vehicle body.