Saddle-ride type vehicle

Abstract

The present application provides a saddle-type vehicle, which can make the appearance around an engine good and easily suppress the heat influence on a painted portion or the like of a shroud even without making the shroud other than the shroud large. In a saddle-type vehicle (10), a shroud (32) is provided with an outer shroud (51) and an inner shroud (61) disposed at a position inside the outer shroud (51) in a vehicle width direction, the inner shroud (61) has an outer exposed portion (61X) exposed to the outside of the outer shroud (51) when the vehicle body is viewed in side view, the outer exposed portion (61X) is located at a position lower than a fuel tank (29) when the vehicle body is viewed in side view and overlaps at least a part of an upper portion of an engine (12), and the outer shroud (51) and the inner shroud (61) are different resin materials.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to saddle-type vehicles. Background Technology

[0002] Among saddle-type vehicles, there are those that include a fuel tank, an engine located below the fuel tank, and a cover covering at least a portion of the fuel tank. Some of these covers have an outer cover and an inner cover (e.g., Patent Document 1). There are also saddle-type vehicles that have a large knee chock extending below the resin cover covering the fuel tank (e.g., Patent Document 2).

[0003] Existing technical documents

[0004] Patent Document 1: Japanese Patent No. 5395444

[0005] Patent Document 2: Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2018-058467 Summary of the Invention

[0006] The problem that the invention aims to solve

[0007] Especially in small-engine, saddle-type vehicles, there is sometimes a gap between the fuel tank and the engine that connects to the left and right sides of the vehicle body (hereinafter referred to as a sparse space).

[0008] To cover the spacious area, it is advisable to enlarge the side covers located under the seat, or to install a large knee cover as described in Patent Document 2. By installing such covers, the exposed appearance of the spacious area can be suppressed.

[0009] However, the increased size of the side shields and the adoption of large knee shields are major constraints on appearance design, impacts on aerodynamic performance, and increases component costs. Furthermore, engine exhaust heat affects the paint finish on the side shields and knee shields, becoming a primary cause of paint peeling.

[0010] The present invention was made in view of the above circumstances, and its object is to achieve a good appearance around the engine without making the cover outside the cover larger, and to easily suppress the thermal effects on the painted parts of the cover, etc.

[0011] Methods for solving problems

[0012] A saddle-type vehicle includes a fuel tank, an engine disposed below the fuel tank, and a cover covering at least a portion of the fuel tank. The cover is characterized by having an outer cover and an inner cover disposed inside the outer cover in the vehicle width direction. The inner cover has an external exposed portion that protrudes beyond the outer cover when the vehicle is viewed from the side. When viewed from the side, the external exposed portion is located below the fuel tank and overlaps with the upper part of the engine. The outer cover and the inner cover are made of different resin materials.

[0013] Invention Effects

[0014] Even without enlarging the outer cover, it is possible to achieve a good appearance around the engine and easily suppress the thermal effects on the painted parts of the cover. Attached Figure Description

[0015] Figure 1 This is a side view of a saddle-type vehicle according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0016] Figure 2 This diagram shows the power unit and its surrounding structure from the side.

[0017] Figure 3 It is a three-dimensional diagram showing the shield separated from the fuel tank.

[0018] Figure 4 It is a 3D view showing the shield connected to the fuel tank.

[0019] Figure 5 The diagram shows the protective cover and fuel tank together from the side of the vehicle body.

[0020] Figure 6 The diagram shows the protective shield and fuel tank together from the front.

[0021] Figure 7 The diagram shows the protective cover and fuel tank together from the rear.

[0022] Label Explanation

[0023] 10: Saddle-type vehicles;

[0024] 12: Power unit (engine);

[0025] 29: Fuel tank;

[0026] 32: Protective shield;

[0027] 51: Outer protective cover;

[0028] 52: Upper protective cover;

[0029] 53: Lower side cover;

[0030] 61: Inner protective cover;

[0031] 61X: External exposed part;

[0032] 61U: Upper edge of the exposed external portion;

[0033] 61L: Lower edge of the exposed external portion;

[0034] 61F: Horizontal louvered panel;

[0035] 61R: Longitudinal louvered panel (louvered panel);

[0036] TL: Lower edge of the fuel tank. Detailed Implementation

[0037] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. Furthermore, in the description, unless otherwise specified, directions such as front, back, left, right, and up / down are assumed to be the same as directions relative to the vehicle body. Additionally, in each figure, the reference numeral FR indicates the front of the vehicle body, the reference numeral UP indicates the top of the vehicle body, and the reference numeral LH indicates the left side of the vehicle body.

[0038] [Implementation Method]

[0039] Figure 1 This is a side view of a saddle-type vehicle 10 according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0040] The saddle-type vehicle 10 is a vehicle comprising the following parts: a frame 11, a power unit 12 supported on the frame 11, a front fork 14 supporting the front wheel 13 for steering, a swing arm 16 supporting the rear wheel 15, and a seat 17 for the passenger.

[0041] The saddle-riding vehicle 10 is a vehicle in which the occupant sits on the seat 17 in a straddling manner. The seat 17 is located above the rear of the frame 11.

[0042] The frame 11 includes: a front riser tube 18 disposed at the front end of the frame 11, a front frame 19 located behind the front riser tube 18, and a rear frame 20 located behind the front frame 19. The front end of the front frame 19 is connected to the front riser tube 18.

[0043] Seat 17 is supported by rear frame 20.

[0044] The front fork 14 is supported by the front seat tube 18 for easy left and right steering. The front wheel 13 is supported on an axle 13a located at the lower end of the front fork 14. A handlebar 21 for steering, held by the rider, is mounted on the upper end of the front fork 14.

[0045] The swing arm 16 is supported by a pivot 22 supported on the frame 11. The pivot 22 is a horizontally extending shaft in the vehicle width direction. The pivot 22 is inserted through the front end of the swing arm 16. The swing arm 16 swings up and down around the pivot 22.

[0046] The rear wheel 15 is supported on an axle 15a located at the rear end of the swing arm 16.

[0047] The power unit 12 is positioned between the front wheel 13 and the rear wheel 15 and is supported on the frame 11.

[0048] The power unit 12 is an internal combustion engine. The power unit 12 includes a crankcase 23 and a cylinder section 24 that houses a reciprocating piston. The exhaust port of the cylinder section 24 is connected to an exhaust device 25.

[0049] The output of the power unit 12 is transmitted to the rear wheel 15 through a drive force transmission component that connects the power unit 12 and the rear wheel 15.

[0050] In addition, the saddle-type vehicle 10 has: a front fender 26 that covers the front wheel 13 from above, a rear fender 27 that covers the rear wheel 15 from above, a footrest 28 for the occupant to place their feet, and a fuel tank 29 for storing fuel used by the power unit 12.

[0051] The front fender 26 is mounted on the front fork 14. The rear fender 27 and footpeg 28 are positioned below the seat 17. The fuel tank 29 is supported on the frame 1.

[0052] The saddle-type vehicle 10 has a body cover 30 that covers various parts of the vehicle body. The body cover 30 includes: a front cover 31 covering the front of the vehicle body; a cover (sometimes also called a fuel tank cover) 32 covering a portion of the fuel tank 29 from the left and right sides; a pair of side covers 33 covering the rear lower part of the fuel tank 29 and the area below the seat 17 from the left and right sides; and a rear cover 34 covering the rear of the vehicle body from the left and right sides. Each cover 31 to 34 constituting the body cover 30 is formed in a bilaterally symmetrical shape with reference to the width center of the saddle-type vehicle 10. However, each cover 31 to 34 is not limited to a bilaterally symmetrical shape and can be appropriately modified.

[0053] The front cover 31 is equipped with lights that illuminate the front. The side covers 33 cover the vehicle body components (such as the air intake 41) located behind the power unit 12 and below the front of the seat 17 from the left and right sides. The rear cover 34 is equipped with lights such as parking lights.

[0054] Figure 2 The diagram shows the power unit 12 together with the surrounding structure from the side.

[0055] The power unit 12 is located below the fuel tank 29, which is supported above the front of the front frame 19, behind the front wheel 13, and forward of the seat 17.

[0056] The power unit 12 includes a crankcase 23 and a cylinder section 24 extending upward from the upper part of the front of the crankcase 23. The cylinder section 24 includes a cylinder block 24A, a cylinder head 24B, and a cylinder head cover 24C (hereinafter referred to as cover 24C) from bottom to top. The cylinder axis L1 of the cylinder section 24 extends forward and upward when the vehicle body is viewed from the side.

[0057] An intake device 41 constituting the intake system of the power unit 12 is connected to the back of the cylinder head 24B, and an exhaust pipe 25A constituting part of the exhaust device 25 is connected to the front surface of the cylinder head 24B.

[0058] exist Figure 2 In the diagram, the lower edge (also called the seam line) TL of the fuel tank 29 and the upper surface PU of the power unit 12 are represented by dashed lines. Figure 2 As shown, the upper surface PU of the power unit 12 (equivalent to the upper surface of the cover 24C) is located below the lower edge TL of the fuel tank 29.

[0059] In this embodiment, the power unit 12 is a small engine with a relatively small displacement. Therefore, a relatively large gap S can be formed between the lower edge TL of the fuel tank 29 and the upper surface PU of the power unit 12. This gap S easily forms a space (spacious space) that connects to the left and right sides of the vehicle body.

[0060] In this structure, the left and right shields 32 cover the gap S from the left and right outer sides, so the gap S is not visible from the outside. In this structure, the power unit 12 is exemplified as a small single-cylinder engine, but it can also be a so-called large-displacement engine, or a parallel or V-type multi-cylinder engine.

[0061] Even when the power unit 12 is not a small engine, there may sometimes be a gap S between the lower edge TL of the fuel tank 29 and the upper surface PU of the power unit 12, which is connected to the left and right sides of the vehicle body. In this case, the gap S can be made invisible from the outside by the cover 32 with this structure.

[0062] Figure 3 This is a perspective view showing the shield 32 separated from the fuel tank 29. Figure 4 This is a perspective view showing the shield 32 connected to the fuel tank 29.

[0063] The protective cover 32 includes an outer protective cover 51 disposed on the outer side in the vehicle width direction and an inner protective cover 61 disposed on the inner side in the vehicle width direction of the outer protective cover 51. Figure 3 The part marked with a shaded line is the inner protective cover 61.

[0064] The outer protective cover 51 and the inner protective cover 61 are joined using a prescribed joining method. The joining method can be a wide range of well-known joining methods, such as those using fasteners such as bolts.

[0065] like Figure 3 As shown, mounting brackets 29K for mounting the protective covers are installed on the left and right sides of the fuel tank 29. The left and right protective covers 32 are detachably fixed to the fuel tank 29 via these mounting brackets 29K.

[0066] like Figure 4 As shown, at least a portion of the fuel tank 29 is covered by a shield 32. Regarding the portion covered by the shield 32, the fuel tank 29 does not need to be shaped to take into account aesthetics and aerodynamic performance, thus contributing to cost reduction. Furthermore, it avoids making the fuel tank 29 excessively large, which also allows for greater freedom in its shape design.

[0067] like Figure 2 As shown, when viewing the vehicle body from the side, the shield 32 is located behind the front riser 18, above the power unit 12, and in front of the seat 17.

[0068] The protective cover 32 is a resin cover installed on the left and right sides of the front of the vehicle body. In this embodiment, the left and right protective covers 32 are symmetrical about the center of the vehicle width.

[0069] like Figure 3 and Figure 4 As shown, the outer protective cover 51 includes an upper protective cover 52 that overlaps with the side of the fuel tank 29 and a lower protective cover 53 that extends downward from the upper protective cover 52. When viewing the vehicle body from the side, the lower edge TL of the fuel tank 29 (refer to...) Figure 2 The upper part of the outer cover 51 is formed as the upper cover 52, and the lower part of the outer cover 51 is formed as the lower cover 53, with the extension line of the lower edge TL as the boundary.

[0070] That is, the boundary between the upper shield 52 and the lower shield 53 is perpendicular to the lower edge TL of the fuel tank 29 (refer to...). Figure 2 The boundary between the upper shield 52 and the lower shield 53 is not limited to a position coinciding with the lower edge TL and / or its extension, but is only required to be along the lower edge TL and / or its extension. This facilitates a design that integrates the upper shield 52 with the fuel tank 29; for example, the upper shield 52 can easily achieve the appearance of being part of the fuel tank 29. Alternatively, only a portion of the boundary between the upper shield 52 and the lower shield 53 may lie along the lower edge TL and / or its extension of the fuel tank 29.

[0071] The upper guard 52 and the lower guard 53 affect the appearance of the saddle-type vehicle 10, and therefore are made of resin material suitable for decoration. In this embodiment, the guards 52 and 53 are integrally made of resin material composed of ABS (acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene) resin.

[0072] The upper protective cover 52 and the lower protective cover 53 are made of ABS resin, which makes decoration based on painting, electroplating, and the affixing of markings (labels, trademarks) very easy, thus improving the appearance. In addition, ABS resin also has the advantages of excellent heat resistance, mechanical strength and processability, and is lightweight.

[0073] In such Figure 2 When the vehicle body is viewed from the side, the upper shield 52 is shaped to extend rearward from a position further forward than the fuel tank 29, covering the front side of the fuel tank 29. When viewed from the side, it functions as an appearance component forming part of the side appearance of the fuel tank 29. Thus, the upper shield 52 can achieve the appearance of being part of the fuel tank 29, or it can achieve the appearance of a large cover or protective shield on the side of the fuel tank 29.

[0074] The shape of the upper shield 52 is not particularly limited, but the upper shield 52 of this structure is formed to extend obliquely upward and rearward when viewed from the side of the vehicle body and to protrude outward in the direction of vehicle width in front of the occupants. Thus, the upper shield 52 can function as an appearance component that enhances the appearance around the fuel tank 29, an aerodynamic component that straightens the driving wind from the front of the vehicle body obliquely upward, and a protective component that protects the occupants.

[0075] The lower protective cover 53 is formed in a shape that extends downward from the front of the upper protective cover 52, as shown in... Figure 2 When viewed from the side, the vehicle body functions as an exterior component that forms the lower front part of the fuel tank 29.

[0076] The lower side cover 53 of this structure extends downward in the forward direction of the power unit 12, thus becoming a cover component extending in front of the cylinder 24 to near the crankcase 23. This cover component can cover the gap (open space) formed in front of the cylinder 24 and below the fuel tank 29 from the left and right sides of the vehicle body, which is connected to the left and right sides of the vehicle body, thus improving the appearance design.

[0077] The shape of the lower guard 53 is not particularly limited, but in this structure, the lower guard 53 is a plate shape that is arranged at intervals on the left and right sides in front of the cylinder section 24 and extends in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle body. Thus, the lower guard 53 can function as an aerodynamic component to rectify the airflow from the front of the vehicle body toward the cylinder section 24, or to adjust the airflow toward the left and right legs of the occupants, and to protect the power unit 12 and the occupants from the effects of surrounding splashes.

[0078] The inner protective cover 61 is made of a different resin material than the outer protective cover 51. In this embodiment, the inner protective cover 61 is made of a resin material composed of polypropylene (PP) resin. Because the inner protective cover 61 is made of polypropylene resin, it has advantages such as excellent heat resistance, mechanical strength, and lightweight, and can be purchased at a lower cost than ABS resin. Furthermore, polypropylene resin is more flexible than ABS resin, and has poorer paintability and adhesion compared to ABS resin; therefore, it is generally not used for finishing and is instead used based on the resin color at the time of molding.

[0079] like Figure 3 and Figure 4 As shown, the inner shield 61 is located between the fuel tank 29 and the outer shield 51. Therefore, when viewing the vehicle body from the side, the part that overlaps with the outer shield 51 is not visible from the side of the vehicle body.

[0080] Figure 5 This diagram shows the protective cover 32 and the fuel tank 29 together from the side of the vehicle body. (See diagram below.) Figure 5 As shown, the inner cover 61 integrally includes an external exposed portion 61X that extends rearward from the lower cover 53 and protrudes outside the vehicle. Figure 5 In the middle, the outline of the external exposed part 61X is represented by a thick line.

[0081] like Figure 2 and Figure 5 As shown, when the vehicle body is viewed from the side, the external exposed part 61X is located below the fuel tank 29 and overlaps with the upper part of the engine composed of the power unit 12. Therefore, the gap S around the upper part of the engine cannot be seen from the outside.

[0082] More specifically, the upper edge 61U of the externally exposed portion 61X extends along the lower edge TL of the fuel tank 29 when the vehicle body is viewed from the side, thus the externally exposed portion 61X extends downward in connection with the lower edge TL of the fuel tank 29. Furthermore, the front end F of the externally exposed portion 61X is located at position PF (refer to) on the upper front surface of the power unit 12 (the front surface of the cover 24C). Figure 2 The rear end R of the externally exposed part 61X is located at position PR on the upper rear side of the power unit 12 (the rear side of the cover 24C) (see reference). Figure 2The lower edge 61L of the externally exposed portion 61X extends forward and backward below the upper surface PU of the power unit 12 when the vehicle body is viewed from the side. Thus, the externally exposed portion 61X covers the gap S between the fuel tank 29 and the power unit 12 from front to rear, and also covers the gap S from top to bottom.

[0083] Since the external exposed portion 61X made of polypropylene resin covers the upper side of the engine, which is composed of the power unit 12, the external exposed portion 61X can suppress the heat transfer from the engine to the outer cover 51. As a result, the thermal impact on the outer cover 51 can be suppressed, that is, the thermal impact on the painted parts such as those in the cover 32 that have been painted, electroplated, and labeled can be suppressed.

[0084] Therefore, even if the outer cover 51 is made of a material with relatively low heat resistance, thermal deformation and deterioration of the outer cover 51 can be suppressed. In addition, in this structure, the external exposed part 61X is not coated or decorated, but as long as the heat effect can be avoided, coatings or decorations suitable for polypropylene resin can be applied.

[0085] Figure 6 The diagram shows the shield 32 and the fuel tank 29 together from the front.

[0086] like Figure 6 As shown, a front opening 71 is formed between the outer cover 51 and the inner cover 61, which faces the front of the vehicle body.

[0087] Upper shield 52 in such Figure 6 The vehicle body, when viewed from the front, has a curved cross-section that protrudes outward in the vehicle width direction and extends along the front-rear direction to the side of the fuel tank 29. The inner shroud 61 has a clearance portion 61N between itself and the upper shroud 52, which allows for a front opening 71. The inner shroud 61 integrally has a plurality of horizontal louvers (also called horizontal blades) 61F extending in the vehicle width direction within the clearance portion 61N (corresponding to the front opening 71). Thus, an appearance design with a front opening 71 with louvers is achieved between the inner shroud 61 and the upper shroud 52.

[0088] These horizontal louvers 61F are formed as inclined louvers extending rearward and upward, and the innermost part of the front opening 71 is not visible from the outside. In addition, when the front opening 71 functions as an external air inlet for introducing external air, the horizontal louvers 61F also function as a flow straightening member for rectifying the external air introduced into the external air inlet.

[0089] In addition, the upper guard 52 protrudes outward in the vehicle width direction than the lower guard 53. As a result, the area around the fuel tank 29 can be made to protrude outward in the vehicle width direction, which can be expected to reduce the effect of wind blowing around the occupant's legs (legs or the area around them).

[0090] Inner protective cover 61 in such Figure 6 As shown, when viewing the vehicle body from the front, the upper side shield 52 and the fuel tank 29 are completely covered, except for the front opening 71. Therefore, the gap between the upper side shield 52 and the fuel tank 29 is not visible from the front of the vehicle body.

[0091] The shape of the inner shield 61 between the upper shield 52 and the fuel tank 29 is not particularly limited, but the inner shield 61 of this structure is continuous in the vertical direction between the upper shield 52 and the fuel tank 29. Therefore, it is possible to guide the driving wind from the front to the power unit 12 below the fuel tank 29, or appropriately reduce the driving wind blowing towards the occupant side.

[0092] Figure 7 The diagram shows the shield 32 and fuel tank 29 together from the rear.

[0093] like Figure 7 As shown, the exposed portion 61X of the inner cover 61 slopes inward in the width direction as it moves towards the rear of the vehicle body. Therefore, the exposed portion 61X can be seen from the side of the vehicle body, as well as from the oblique rear of the vehicle body and the rear of the vehicle body.

[0094] Multiple longitudinal louvers (also called longitudinal blades) 61R are integrally provided at intervals along the front and rear of the external exposed portion 61X. These longitudinal louvers 61R are formed in a shape along the rear edge of the outer cover 51 (see reference). Figure 5 As a result, the appearance of the external exposed portion 61X is improved, for example, it is possible to obtain an appearance design with a sense of speed.

[0095] like Figure 7 As shown, a rear opening 72 is formed between the inner shield 61 and the lower shield 53, opening towards the rear of the vehicle body. The rear opening 72 can be an external air outlet for discharging external air from the front of the vehicle body, or it can be a closed portion internally. When the rear opening 72 is used as an external air outlet, the longitudinal louvers 61R can function as a flow straightening member for rectifying the external air discharged from the external air outlet.

[0096] These longitudinal louvers 61R also make it difficult to see the components inside the rear opening 72 from the outside. In this way, an external air vent with louvers can be provided, or an appearance that mimics the external air vent can be achieved, thereby improving the appearance design and facilitating the smooth exhaust of heat from the power unit 12 to the outside of the vehicle.

[0097] Alternatively, it can be configured so that the rear opening 72 does not open to the rear.

[0098] As described above, in this embodiment, the protective cover 32 includes an outer protective cover 51 and an inner protective cover 61 disposed inside the outer protective cover 51 in the vehicle width direction. The inner protective cover 61 has an external exposed portion 61X that protrudes outside the outer protective cover 51 when the vehicle body is viewed from the side. When the vehicle body is viewed from the side, the external exposed portion 61X is located below the fuel tank 29 and overlaps with at least a portion of the upper part of the engine composed of the power unit 12. The outer protective cover 51 and the inner protective cover 61 are made of different resin materials.

[0099] According to this structure, at least a portion of the gap S between the fuel tank 29 and the upper part of the engine can be covered by the external exposed portion 61X of the inner cover 61, making the gap S difficult to see visually, without requiring the cover outside the cover 32 to be enlarged to make the gap S difficult to see visually. In addition, the outer cover 51 and the inner cover 61 are made of different resin materials, so the outer cover 51 can be made of a material suitable for painting and other decoration, and the inner cover 61 can be made of a material that is beneficial to suppressing the heat effects of the engine on the painted parts of the outer cover 51 and is not suitable for painting and other decoration.

[0100] Therefore, even without enlarging the cover outside the shield 32, it is possible to achieve a good appearance around the engine and easily suppress the thermal effects on the painted parts of the shield 32.

[0101] In this structure, the outer cover 51 is made of ABS resin and the inner cover 61 is made of polypropylene. Therefore, it is easy to apply decorations such as painting or electroplating to the outer cover 51, and the inner cover 61 can obtain sufficient heat resistance relative to the engine exhaust heat. In addition, other properties (mechanical strength, flexibility, etc.) desired by each cover 51 and 61 can also be obtained.

[0102] Furthermore, the outer cover 51 has an upper cover 52 located to the side of the fuel tank 29 and a lower cover 53 located below the upper cover 52, with an external exposed portion 61X extending to the rear of the vehicle body behind the lower cover 53. With this structure, the upper cover 52 can achieve an appearance similar to a portion of the fuel tank 29, or it can become a large cover or protective shield to the side of the fuel tank 29. Thus, even without forming the fuel tank 29 into a complex shape, an aesthetically pleasing design can be achieved, or wind exposure around the occupants' legs can be reduced. Additionally, by avoiding a complex shape for the fuel tank 29, a reduction in manufacturing costs for the fuel tank 29 can be expected.

[0103] In addition, since the upper protective cover 52 and the lower protective cover 53 are integrated, the number of parts can be reduced, and cost reduction can be expected.

[0104] Furthermore, when viewing the vehicle body from the side, the boundary between the upper side shield 52 and the lower side shield 53 is located along the lower edge TL of the fuel tank 29 and / or along the extension of the lower edge TL. According to this structure, the upper side shield 52 can more easily achieve an appearance similar to a portion of the fuel tank 29, which is beneficial to improving the appearance and functionality of the area surrounding the fuel tank 29.

[0105] Furthermore, when viewing the vehicle body from the side, the upper edge 61U of the external exposed portion 61X extends along the lower edge TL of the fuel tank 29 and / or the extension line of the lower edge TL. According to this structure, the external exposed portion 61X does not obstruct the external exposure of the fuel tank 29, can suppress the thermal impact on the painted parts of the shield 32, and is also conducive to the miniaturization of the external exposed portion 61X.

[0106] In addition, the upper guard 52 protrudes outward in the vehicle width direction than the lower guard 53. Therefore, the area around the fuel tank 29 can be made to protrude outward in the vehicle width direction, which can reduce wind blowing around the occupants' legs and can be expected to reduce occupant fatigue.

[0107] Furthermore, a louver composed of longitudinal louvers 61R is provided on the external exposed portion 61X along the rear end of the outer cover 51. By providing the louvers on the inner cover 61, an appearance with a sense of speed can be achieved, for example. In addition, by configuring the structure to promote the exhaust of air from the engine side using the louvers, heat from the engine can be easily exhausted.

[0108] The above-described embodiments represent one aspect of the present invention, and the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments. For example, the outer protective cover 51 is made of ABS resin and the inner protective cover 61 is made of polypropylene, but it is not limited to these resin materials. In addition, the shape of each part of the protective cover 32 (including the shape of the external exposed part 61X) can be appropriately changed, and the upper protective cover 52 and the lower protective cover 53 can also be separate.

[0109] Furthermore, regarding the application of this invention... Figure 1 The invention has been described in the case of an automatic two-wheeled vehicle, but is not limited thereto. It can be widely applied to other automatic two-wheeled vehicles, as well as saddle-type vehicles including three-wheeled and four-wheeled types.

[0110] [Structure supported by the above embodiments]

[0111] The above implementation supports the following structures.

[0112] (Structure 1) A saddle-type vehicle comprising: a fuel tank, an engine disposed below the fuel tank, and a cover covering at least a portion of the fuel tank, characterized in that the cover comprises an outer cover and an inner cover disposed at a position inside the vehicle width direction of the outer cover, the inner cover having an external exposed portion that protrudes beyond the outer cover when the vehicle body is viewed from the side, the external exposed portion being located below the fuel tank and overlapping at least a portion of the upper part of the engine when the vehicle body is viewed from the side, the outer cover and the inner cover being made of different resin materials.

[0113] According to this structure, a resin material suitable for painting and other decorative purposes can be used for the outer cover, while a resin material that is beneficial for suppressing the thermal impact of the engine on the painted parts of the outer cover and is not suitable for painting and other decorative purposes can be used for the inner cover. Therefore, even without making the cover outside the outer cover larger, the appearance around the engine can be good, and the thermal impact on the painted parts of the outer cover can be easily suppressed.

[0114] (Structure 2) According to Structure 1, the saddle-type vehicle is characterized in that the outer cover has an upper cover located on the side of the fuel tank and a lower cover located below the upper cover, and the external exposed portion extends to the rear of the vehicle body of the lower cover.

[0115] According to this structure, even without forming the fuel tank into a complex shape, it is possible to achieve an appearance that does not compromise the design, or to reduce wind blowing around the fuel tank around the occupants' legs, and also to expect a reduction in the manufacturing cost of the fuel tank.

[0116] (Structure 3) The saddle-type vehicle according to Structure 2 is characterized in that the upper side cover and the lower side cover are integral.

[0117] Based on this structure, the number of components can be reduced, and cost reduction can be expected.

[0118] (Structure 4) The saddle-type vehicle according to Structure 2 or 3 is characterized in that, when the vehicle body is viewed from the side, the boundary between the upper guard and the lower guard is located along the lower edge of the fuel tank and / or along the extension of the lower edge.

[0119] According to this structure, the upper shield can more easily achieve the appearance of part of the fuel tank, which is beneficial to improving the appearance and functionality of the area around the fuel tank.

[0120] (Structure 5) The saddle-type vehicle according to Structure 4 is characterized in that, when the vehicle body is viewed from the side, the upper edge of the external exposed portion extends along the lower edge of the fuel tank and / or the extension line of the lower edge.

[0121] According to this structure, the external exposed portion does not obstruct the external exposure of the fuel tank, can suppress the thermal impact on the painted parts of the shield, and is also conducive to the miniaturization of the external exposed portion.

[0122] (Structure 6) The saddle-type vehicle according to any one of Structures 2 to 5, characterized in that the upper side cover protrudes outward in the vehicle width direction than the lower side cover.

[0123] According to this structure, the area around the fuel tank can be made to protrude outwards in the width direction of the vehicle, which can reduce wind blowing around the occupants' legs and can be expected to reduce occupant fatigue.

[0124] (Structure 7) The saddle-type vehicle according to any one of Structures 1 to 6 is characterized in that a louver is provided on the exposed external portion along the rear end of the outer cover.

[0125] According to this structure, by setting louvers in the inner cover, a speed-oriented appearance can be achieved, and by setting the structure to promote the exhaust of air from the engine side using louvers, heat from the engine can be easily exhausted.

[0126] (Structure 8) The saddle-type vehicle according to any one of Structures 1 to 7, characterized in that the outer cover is made of ABS resin and the inner cover is made of polypropylene.

[0127] Based on this structure, it is easy to apply paint or other decorations to the outer cover, and sufficient heat resistance relative to engine heat dissipation can be obtained in the inner cover. Furthermore, other desired characteristics of each cover can also be achieved. Thus, even without increasing the size of the covers outside the outer cover, the appearance around the engine can be good, and the thermal effects on the painted parts of the cover can be suppressed.

Claims

1. A saddle-type vehicle comprising: a fuel tank (29), an engine disposed below the fuel tank (29), and a cover (32) covering at least a portion of the fuel tank (29). Its features are, The shield (32) includes an outer shield (51) and an inner shield (61) disposed on the inside side of the outer shield (51) in the vehicle width direction. The inner shield (61) has an external exposed portion (61X) that extends rearward and protrudes outside the vehicle body when viewed from the side compared to the outer shield (51). When viewed from the side, the upper edge (61U) of the external exposed portion (61X) extends along the lower edge (TL) of the fuel tank (29) and / or the extension line of the lower edge (TL). When viewed from the side, the lower edge (61L) of the external exposed portion (61X) extends back and forth below the upper surface (PU) of the engine, and the external exposed portion (61X) covers at least a portion of the upper part of the engine from the outside in the vehicle width direction. The outer protective cover (51) is made of ABS resin, and the inner protective cover (61) is made of polypropylene. The outer shield (51) has: an upper shield (52) located to the side of the fuel tank (29) and extending obliquely upward and rearward when viewed from the side; and a lower shield (53) located below the upper shield (52) and extending obliquely downward and rearward when viewed from the side. The external exposed portion (61X) extends to the rear of the vehicle body of the lower protective cover (53). The boundary between the upper shield (52) and the lower shield (53) has a valley shape that is recessed inward in the vehicle width direction. When the vehicle body is viewed from the side, the boundary between the upper shield (52) and the lower shield (53) is located along the lower edge (TL) of the fuel tank (29) and / or extends along the extension line of the lower edge (TL).

2. The saddle-type vehicle according to claim 1, characterized in that, The upper protective cover (52) and the lower protective cover (53) are integrated.

3. The saddle-type vehicle according to claim 1, characterized in that, The upper guard (52) protrudes outward in the vehicle width direction than the lower guard (53).

4. The saddle-type vehicle according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that, A louvered panel is provided on the external exposed portion (61X) along the rear end of the outer cover (51).

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