JPH09328088A - Saddle ride type vehicle - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To introduce fresh air without changing a vehicle appearance by forming a box-like space opened toward a front side from a front wheel by using the lower surface of a front fender in an upper position between left and right front wheels and connecting a part item for introducing external air to this. SOLUTION: A front fender 23 is extended to the front more than front wheels and a bottom surface member 46 and a side face member 45 are extended to the front more than the axle of a front wheel 12. Accordingly, the front end opening 52 of a box-like space 43 formed in the front end of the side face member is formed in a position in front of the front axle. The box-like space 43 formed in the upper position of the front wheel 12 by using the lower surface of the front fender 23 is used as a space for disposing the air taking-in port of an external air introducing means. That is, the box-like space 43 is a space existing in the front upper side of a car body and opened toward the front more than the front axle and thus always fresh air is introduced without the incursion of mud or dust raised by the axle.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a straddle-type vehicle such as a four-wheeled vehicle, and more particularly to a structure of a straddle-type vehicle having a front fender that covers a front portion of a vehicle body.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In general, a straddle-type vehicle has front wheels (steering wheels) mounted on the front left and right sides of a frame (body frame) via suspension devices (struts, etc.) and is provided at the center of the frame. The left and right rear wheels (drive wheels) are mounted on a swing arm swingably supported by a pivot shaft and suspended by a load-carrying cushion unit, and the steering shaft supported by the front of the frame is turned by a steering wheel. The front two wheels are steered by moving the vehicle, and the vehicle is driven by driving the front wheels or the rear wheels by an engine mounted at the center of the frame.

[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 that discloses this type of straddle-type vehicle is disclosed, for example, in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 1-223089.

The covers include a front fender for covering a front wheel portion, a tank cover for covering a fuel tank, a rear fender for covering a rear wheel portion, and a side cover for covering left and right side portions of a frame. In these covers, adjacent covers are appropriately integrated or conversely subdivided in consideration of productivity and assemblability.

On the other hand, the frame of the straddle-type vehicle is usually formed of 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 main upper members. A plurality of side members connecting the main lower members at predetermined positions in the front-rear direction, 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 a left and right main upper The vehicle includes left and right seat rails extending rearward from the members, and left and right rear members extending obliquely from the middle of the rear side members toward the middle of the seat rails.

Fuel is supplied to the engine mounted in the central portion of the vehicle body (the central portion of the frame) by mixing the outside air drawn through the intake duct and the air cleaner with the fuel measured by the carburetor or the fuel injection valve. , The combustion chamber is filled with this mixture through an intake port and an intake valve.

On the other hand, a saddle-ride type vehicle is often used for running on rough terrain, so that the lower half of the vehicle body is often exposed to dust and muddy water when the vehicle is running, as compared to an automobile and the like. The air intake of the duct is arranged at the upper part of the vehicle body. As an example thereof, the air intake port of the engine intake duct is arranged in front of the handle shaft and behind the highest part of the front cover or front fender.

As another example, an outside air introducing pipe (intake duct) connected to an air cleaner may be installed near the fuel tank at the upper part of the vehicle body to take in outside air from between the fuel tank and the tank cover. It is being appreciated. Documents showing a conventional example of such an air intake device include, for example, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 8-26.
There is 166 publication.

[0009]

However, in the former configuration in which the air intake port is arranged at the highest portion of the front cover in front of the handle shaft, although the position of the intake port of the intake duct is high, it is seen from the side. Since the position is on the rear side of the front wheel, the possibility of inhaling dust etc. that is rolled up by the front wheel is considerably high, and it is expensive not only when inhaling the engine but also when introducing outside air to cool the mounted parts etc. Air cleaning means such as an air cleaner is required. On the other hand, in the latter configuration in which the outside air introduction pipe is extended to the vicinity of the fuel tank, air is taken in from the gap between the fuel tank and the tank cover that opens downward just above the engine, so that the engine hot air and dust are sucked in. I have something to do.

The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned prior art, and an object of the present invention is to introduce clean outside air containing no dust and the like into a large volume while hardly changing the appearance of the vehicle. (EN) Provided is a straddle-type vehicle in which a box-shaped space that can easily secure the space can be secured, and outside air necessary for traveling of the vehicle can be easily and sufficiently taken in in a clean state and at room temperature. That is.

[0011]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a straddle-type vehicle including a front fender for covering a front portion of a vehicle body and a fuel tank attached to an upper portion of a vehicle body frame. At the upper position, by using the lower surface of the front fender, a box-shaped space is formed that opens forward in front of the front axle, and parts for introducing outside air required when the vehicle is traveling are provided in the box-shaped space. The above-mentioned object is achieved by adopting a configuration of connection.

According to the inventions of claims 2 to 4, in addition to the structure of claim 1, the box-shaped space includes a lower surface of the front fender, side members fixed to the left and right of the vehicle body, and a bottom surface fixed to the vehicle body. A structure that is surrounded by a member and a rear surface is a space that is substantially closed by the front surface of the fuel tank. The parts that introduce the outside air include an engine intake duct, cooling air introduction means for a V-belt type automatic transmission, and a drum. The above object can be achieved more efficiently by using at least one of a breather for a brake and a breather for a differential gear, or by mounting an electric component inside the box-shaped space. .

[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. 1 is a left side view of an embodiment of a saddle riding type vehicle to which the present invention is applied, and FIG.
FIG. 3 is a plan view of the saddle riding type vehicle. 1 and 2,
Frame composed of pipe welded structure (body frame) 1
The engine 11 is mounted in the center of the
Left and right front wheels (steering wheels) 12 and 12 are suspended on both sides of the front portion of the vehicle, and left and right rear wheels (usually drive wheels) 13 and 13 are suspended on the rear portion of the frame 10.

A steering shaft 14 extending substantially vertically is pivotally supported at the front of the frame 10, a bar handle 15 is fixed to the upper end of the steering shaft 14, and a left and right steering shaft 14 is provided at the lower part of the steering shaft 14. Tie rods (not shown) leading to the front wheels 12, 12 are 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
The engine 2 is driven by the engine 11 via a transmission mechanism including a drive shaft 41. This transmission mechanism is connected to a differential gear (not shown) that drives the left and right front wheels 12, 12.

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. Tip opening 3 of this intake duct 30
Reference numeral 1 denotes an air intake port for intake air of the engine.

Therefore, according to the present invention, the left and right front wheels of the saddle-ride type vehicle including the front fender 23 for covering the front portion of the vehicle body and the fuel tank 19 mounted on the upper portion of the vehicle body frame 10 as described above. The lower surface 44 of the front fender 23 is located at an upper position between the two 12.
Is used to form a box-shaped space 43 that is open forward in front of the front axle 42, and a component (for example, the intake duct 30) that introduces outside air required when the vehicle is running is connected to the box-shaped space 43. It is configured to be.

FIG. 3 is a partial left side view showing the front upper part of the vehicle body of the saddle-ride type vehicle of FIG. 1, FIG. 4 is a transverse sectional view taken along line 4-4 in FIG. 3, and FIG. 5 is a transverse sectional view taken along line 5-5 in FIG. In FIGS. 1 and 3 to 5, the box-shaped space 43 that is open toward the front is formed in the vehicle body and the lower surface 44 of the central upper portion of the front fender 23 and side members 45 and 45 fixed to the left and right of the vehicle body. Fixed bottom member 4
6 and 47, and the rear surface of the box-shaped space 43 is substantially closed by the front surface 48 of the fuel tank 19.

In FIGS. 1 and 3 to 5, on the left and right of the front portion of the vehicle body frame 10, there are mud plates 49 for preventing infiltration of mud, water, etc., which the front wheels 12, 12 wind up into the vehicle body. 49 is attached. 3 to 5, the front fender 23 has a fender mounting bracket 50 attached to the vehicle body frame 10, and the left and right mudproof plates 49, 49 are means for fastening the fender mounting bracket 50 to the frame 10 (bolts). ) 51 together with the bracket 50 and fastened together to the frame 10.

In the present embodiment, the bottom surface of the box-shaped space 43 is divided into two front and rear bottom members 46 and 47, but this may be formed by a single bottom member. Further, in the present embodiment, the side members 45, 45 of the box-shaped space 43 are constituted by portions of the left and right mudproof plates 49, 49 above the bottom members 46, 47 as shown in FIGS. 3 to 5. However, these side members 45, 45 may be formed as independent members. Further, it may be integrated with the front fender 23. As shown in FIG. 3, the rear end of the bottom member 47 on the rear side extends to the vicinity of the front end of the fuel tank 19, and the rear surface of the box-shaped space 43 is almost closed by the front end surface 48 of the fuel tank 19.

In FIGS. 1 and 3, the front fender 23 extends sufficiently forward of the front axle 42,
The bottom surface member (front bottom surface member) 46 and the left and right side surface members 45, 45 extend rearward of the front end of the front fender 23 but forward of the axle 42 of the front wheel 12. Therefore, the front end opening 52 of the box-shaped space 43 formed by the front end edges of the left and right side surface members 45, 45 is formed at a position before the front axle 42.

A box-shaped space 43 having a front end opening formed by utilizing the lower surface 44 of the front fender 23 at an upper position between the left and right front wheels 12 and 12 provides outside air necessary for running the vehicle such as engine intake air. It is used as a space in which the air intake of the outside air introducing means for introducing is arranged. That is, since the box-shaped space 43 is the front upper part of the vehicle body and is a space that opens forward in front of the front axle, mud and dust that are wound up by the wheels hardly enter, and are always It forms a space where clean air exists.

Therefore, the air intake of the outside air introducing means for introducing the outside air required when the vehicle is traveling is arranged in the box-shaped space 43, that is, the engine intake duct 3
By connecting an outside air introduction means such as 0 to the box-shaped space 43, it is possible to take in clean air that does not contain foreign matter such as dust and mud. In addition to the engine intake duct 30 shown in the figure, there are cooling air introduction means for the V-belt type automatic transmission, a breather for a drum brake, a breather for a differential gear, and the like as parts for introducing the outside air. When carrying out, at least one of these outside air introducing means is connected to the box-shaped space 43.

When the engine intake duct 30 is connected to the box-shaped space 43, it is preferable that the front end opening (air intake port) 31 of the intake duct 30 is connected rearward as shown in FIG. . The reason is that even if rainwater (water droplets), muddy water splashed forward by the front wheels, or dust or muddy water splashed by a vehicle traveling in front intrudes into the box-shaped space 43 from the front opening 52, This is because it is possible to minimize intrusion of water droplets, dust, and muddy water from the outside air introduction means such as the engine intake duct 30.

According to the embodiment described above, the front fender 2 is provided at the upper position between the left and right front wheels 12, 12.
By utilizing the lower surface 44 of No. 3 to form a box-shaped space 43 that is open in front of the front axle 42 and forward, the box-shaped space such as the engine intake duct 30 for introducing outside air necessary for traveling of the vehicle Since it is configured to be connected to the space 43, a space for a large volume of clean air can be easily formed with almost no change in the external appearance of the vehicle, and therefore clean outside air that does not contain dust or the like can be easily introduced. Therefore, it is possible to easily and sufficiently secure the outside air at room temperature which is clean and necessary when the vehicle is traveling.

Further, in the box-shaped space 43, since the air is clean and is formed by being partitioned above the vehicle body, the temperature is maintained at the outside air temperature without being affected by the heat of the engine. Electrical components that dislike dust and high temperatures (regulators, igniters, ignition coils, etc.)
Is preferably mounted in the box-shaped space 43.

In the embodiment described above, as shown in FIG. 1, a chamber portion 32 for changing the flow passage cross-sectional area is formed in the middle of the intake duct 30, and the surface of the chamber portion 32 (vehicle The outer surface when mounted is itself a part of the side surface of the vehicle body (outer surface of the vehicle body). That is, with the intake duct 30 attached to the vehicle,
The surface of 2 forms an outer surface that is substantially continuous with the surfaces of the adjacent front fender 23, tank cover 24, and rear fender 25, and the chamber portion 32 itself is used as an external appearance design member.

[0029]

As is apparent from the above description, according to the invention of claim 1, a straddle-type vehicle including a front fender for covering a front portion of a vehicle body and a fuel tank attached to an upper portion of the vehicle body frame, A part that forms a box-shaped space that opens forward in front of the front axle by utilizing the lower surface of the front fender at an upper position between the left and right front wheels, and that introduces outside air necessary for traveling of the vehicle Since it is configured to connect to the box-shaped space, a box-shaped space that can easily introduce clean outside air that does not contain dust and can easily secure a large volume without changing the appearance of the vehicle is secured. Thus, there is provided a straddle-type vehicle that can easily and sufficiently take in outside air necessary for traveling the vehicle in a clean state.

According to the inventions of claims 2 and 3, in addition to the structure of claim 1, the box-shaped space is fixed to the lower surface of the front fender, side members fixed to the left and right of the vehicle body, and the vehicle body. A bottom surface member, and the rear surface is a space substantially closed by the front surface of the fuel tank,
Alternatively, the component for introducing the outside air is at least one of an engine intake duct, a cooling air introduction unit for the V-belt type automatic transmission, a breather for a drum brake, and a breather for a differential gear. Since a large volume can be secured as a box-shaped space, a straddle-type vehicle that does not interfere with intake air to each other and can achieve the above effect more efficiently is provided.

According to the invention of claim 4, the above-mentioned claims 1 to
In addition to the configuration of 3, the electrical components are attached to the inside of the box-shaped space. Therefore, in addition to the above-described effects, it is possible to easily secure a space suitable for mounting the electrical components. .

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a left side view of an embodiment of a saddle riding type vehicle to which the present invention is applied.

FIG. 2 is a plan view of the straddle-type vehicle shown in FIG.

FIG. 3 is a partial left side view showing a front upper portion of the vehicle body of the saddle-ride type vehicle of FIG.

4 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line 4-4 in FIG.

5 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line 5-5 in FIG.

[Explanation 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 25 Rear Fender 27 Vaporizer 29 Air Cleaner 30 Intake Duct 31 Air Intake 32 Chamber Section 42 Front Axle 43 Box-shaped Space 44 Lower surface of front fender 45 Side member 46 Bottom member 47 Bottom member 48 Front of fuel tank 49 Mudguard 52 Front end opening of box-shaped space

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A saddle-ride type vehicle comprising a front fender covering a front portion of a vehicle body and a fuel tank mounted on an upper portion of a vehicle body frame, wherein a lower surface of the front fender is provided at an upper position between left and right front wheels. A straddle-type vehicle characterized by forming a box-shaped space that is open toward the front in front of the front axle by utilizing it, and connects parts for introducing outside air necessary for traveling of the vehicle to the box-shaped space. . 2. The box-shaped space is surrounded by a lower surface of the front fender, side surface members fixed to the left and right of the vehicle body, and bottom surface members fixed to the vehicle body, and a rear surface thereof is substantially closed by a front surface of the fuel tank. The straddle-type vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the straddle-type vehicle is an enclosed space. 3. The component for introducing the outside air is at least one of an engine intake duct, cooling air introduction means for a V-belt type automatic transmission, a breather for a drum brake, and a breather for a differential gear. The straddle-type vehicle according to claim 1 or 2. 4. The straddle-type vehicle according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein an electrical component is mounted inside the box-shaped space.