Cooling assembly for two-wheel vehicle

Abstract

The two-wheeled vehicle may include a frame, a plurality of ground engaging members for supporting the frame; and an engine supported by the frame assembly. Additionally, the two-wheeled vehicle may include a cooling assembly including a radiator, a radiator cover, a fan, and a coolant bottle. The cooling assembly may include a single unit such that all components are coupled to each other, and may be mounted, removed, or rotated as a single structural unit. A coolant bottle may be positioned below the heat sink. The heat sink cover may have a plurality of horizontal louvers and a plurality of vertical louvers, both of which are positioned to be free from debris and capture airflow.

Description

[0001] CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0002] This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 63 / 349,813, filed on June 7, 2022, the entire disclosure of which is expressly incorporated herein by reference. Technical Field

[0003] The present disclosure relates to cooling assemblies for vehicles, and more particularly to radiator caps and coolant bottles for two-wheeled vehicles. Background Art

[0004] A conventional two-wheeled vehicle includes a frame that supports an operator. The frame may also support a passenger behind the driver. The engine is typically positioned below the driver and coupled to the frame. The front of the vehicle may include a panel or cover positioned in front of the driver that supports additional components of the vehicle, such as lights. The rear of the vehicle may include a cargo area, such as saddlebags that extend laterally outward from the frame.

[0005] Such vehicles typically include a cooling assembly that is fluidly coupled to the engine. The cooling assembly may include a radiator, a fan, a coolant, a fluid conduit, and various other components. Since space on such vehicles may be limited, it is desirable to support the cooling assembly on the two-wheeled vehicle without interfering with other components of the vehicle. Summary of the invention

[0006] In an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, a two-wheeled vehicle includes a frame and a plurality of ground engaging members, the frame including a down tube, the plurality of ground engaging members for supporting the frame. Additionally, the two-wheeled vehicle includes a cooling assembly, the cooling assembly including a radiator and a radiator cover. The radiator cover includes a plurality of horizontal louvers and a plurality of vertical louvers.

[0007] Another exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure includes a two-wheeled vehicle including a frame and a plurality of ground engaging members, the frame including a down tube and a mounting arm on the down tube, the plurality of ground engaging members for supporting the frame. Additionally, the two-wheeled vehicle includes a cooling assembly including a radiator, a fan, a radiator cap, and a coolant bottle as a single structural unit.

[0008] Another exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure includes a two-wheeled vehicle, the two-wheeled vehicle including a frame and a plurality of ground engaging members, the frame including a downtube and a mounting arm on the downtube, the plurality of ground engaging members for supporting the frame. Additionally, the two-wheeled vehicle includes a cooling assembly, the cooling assembly including a radiator, a fan, and a coolant bottle. The coolant bottle is positioned below the radiator.

[0009] This Summary is provided to introduce a selection of concepts in a simplified form that are further described below in the Detailed Description. This Summary is not intended to identify key features or essential features of the claimed subject matter, nor is it intended to be used to limit the scope of the claimed subject matter. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0010] Figure 1 is a left side view of a schematic representation of a two-wheeled vehicle of the present disclosure;

[0011] Figure 2 yes Figure 1 A top view of a two-wheeled vehicle;

[0012] Figure 3 Is for Figure 1 a left front perspective view of a portion of a vehicle coupled to a frame and a cooling assembly;

[0013] Figure 4 yes Figure 3 A partial exploded view of a cooling assembly;

[0014] Figure 5 yes Figure 3 A front view of a radiator cover of a cooling assembly of the embodiment of the present invention, the radiator cover having horizontal louvers and vertical louvers;

[0015] Figure 6 yes Figure 3 An upper left perspective view of a pivot mounting member of a radiator of a cooling assembly;

[0016] Figure 7 yes Figure 3 An exploded view of the heat sink and frame of the cooling assembly;

[0017] Figure 8 yes Figure 3 a right rear perspective view of the cooling assembly and frame;

[0018] Fig. 9 yes Figure 3 a rear exploded view of a portion of a cooling assembly of; and

[0019] Fig.10 yes Figure 3 Left rear view of the coolant bottle of the cooling assembly.

[0020] Corresponding reference numerals indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views. Unless otherwise indicated, the drawings are to scale. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0021] The embodiments disclosed below are not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise forms disclosed in the following detailed description. Rather, the embodiments are selected and described so that others skilled in the art can utilize the teachings of the embodiments. Although the present invention is primarily directed to standard motorcycles, it should be understood that the present invention can be applied to other types of vehicles, such as all-terrain vehicles, motorcycles, boats, utility vehicles, scooters, golf carts, and mopeds.

[0022] First reference Figure 1 to Figure 2 , shows an illustrative embodiment of a two-wheeled vehicle 2. The vehicle 2 as shown is a motorcycle, and may be configured for cruising, touring, sporting, off-roading, or other various operating applications described herein.

[0023] The vehicle 2 includes a frame 4, which is supported by ground engaging members, namely a front ground engaging member and a rear ground engaging member, the front ground engaging member being illustratively a front wheel 6 and the rear ground engaging member being illustratively a rear wheel 8. The vehicle 2 travels relative to the ground on the front wheel 6 and the rear wheel 8. The front wheel 6 and the rear wheel 8 are generally aligned along the centerline L of the vehicle 2. Although the vehicle 2 is a two-wheeled vehicle, various embodiments of the present disclosure may include a three-wheeled vehicle, a four-wheeled vehicle, a five-wheeled vehicle, or a six-wheeled vehicle. A front fender (not shown) may be partially positioned around the front wheel 6 and may include a light or reflector. Similarly, a rear fender (not shown) may be positioned around the rear wheel 8. Additionally, a brake assembly (not shown) may be operably coupled to the front wheel 6 and / or the rear wheel 8.

[0024] The frame 4 of the vehicle 2 may include an intermediate frame assembly 10 for supporting a powertrain assembly 12. The intermediate frame assembly 10 or other portions of the frame 4, such as a front frame portion or a rear frame portion, may support a cooling assembly 14 ( Figure 3 ), a fuel tank 16, a rear suspension assembly, and an operator seat. The front wheels 6 and / or the rear wheels 8 can be operatively coupled to a powertrain assembly 12 to drive the vehicle 2 along a ground surface. The powertrain assembly 12 can include both an engine and a transmission. The engine can be a spark-ignition gasoline engine, an electric motor, or other suitable torque-generating machine capable of operating with various embodiments of the present teachings.

[0025] The vehicle 2 also includes a front suspension assembly, a steering assembly 18, operator controls, and other systems. The steering assembly 18 includes a handlebar that can be moved by the operator to rotate the front wheel 6 to the left or right. The steering assembly 18 is coupled to the vehicle 2 via a triple clamp assembly. The triple clamp assembly can be operably coupled to the front suspension assembly via a down tube.

[0026] Reference now Figures 3 to 10The cooling assembly 14 includes: a radiator cover 26; a radiator 20, which is positioned behind the radiator cover; a fan 22, which is positioned behind the radiator 20; and a coolant bottle 24, which is positioned below the fan 22 and the radiator 20. The radiator 20 includes a plurality of vertical fins 38. The radiator cover 26 has a plurality of horizontal louvers 28 and a plurality of vertical louvers 30. The louvers 28, 30 are both straight planar shapes.

[0027] like Figure 3 and Figure 4 As shown, the radiator cap 26 surrounds at least the front surface of the radiator 20 and the coolant bottle 24. The radiator cap 26 is removably coupled to the down tube 32 through the cross member 80 of the frame 4 using fasteners 46 that extend through the upper holes 50 of the cap 26. Additionally, the cap 26 is removably coupled to the coolant bottle 24 using fasteners 46 that extend through the lower holes of the cap 26. More specifically, and as shown Figure 4 As shown, radiator cap 26 is removably coupled to coolant bottle 24 when lower holes 48 of cap 26 are aligned with holes 54 on coolant bottle 24, and radiator cap 26 is removably coupled to down tube 32 (via cross member 80) when upper holes 50 of cap 26 are aligned with holes 52 of cross member 80. In this manner, cap 26 is removably coupled to vehicle 2 to access radiator 20, and is coupled to vehicle 2 via frame members and coolant bottle 24.

[0028] The radiator cover 26 has a plurality of horizontal louvers 28 positioned along the upper extent of the cover 26. Illustratively, the horizontal louvers 28 extend laterally along at least the upper half of the cover 26 and are arranged as shown in FIG. Figure 5 As shown, the horizontal louvers 28 are positioned on the top and center portion of the radiator cover 26. In one embodiment, the horizontal louvers 28 also extend along at least a portion of the width of the lower extent of the cover 26. The radiator cover 26 provides the dual benefits of protecting the radiator 20 from debris and acting as a guide for directing airflow into the radiator 20. There is a gap 82 between the uppermost horizontal louvers 28 and the top of the radiator cover 26 to facilitate air flow into the radiator 20.

[0029] Airflow generally enters the radiator from a vertical direction above the top of the front wheel 6 and the fender, and laterally around the sides of the front wheel 6. Most of the airflow entering the radiator 20 first passes through the front wheel 6 and the fender, which directs the air downward in the vertical direction toward the radiator cover 26. For this reason, the top of the radiator cover 26 has a plurality of horizontal louvers 28, which are positioned at an angle to capture the airflow directed vertically downward. The lateral airflow that bypasses the front wheel 6 along the center line L of the vehicle 2 in the lateral direction is captured by the vertical louvers 30, which are positioned on the lower left and right sides of the radiator cover 26. At the bottom center portion of the radiator cover 26, the lower horizontal louvers 28 may be positioned laterally between the first or left group of vertical louvers 30 and the second or right group of vertical louvers 30. The lower horizontal louvers 28 capture the vertical airflow that flows to this area of ​​the radiator cover 26.

[0030] Illustratively, the horizontal louvers are aligned horizontally and are generally parallel to each other. The vertical louvers 30 are aligned vertically and are generally parallel to each other. In one embodiment, the vertical louvers 30 can be positioned at an angle of at least 0 to 45 degrees to the centerline L. The horizontal louvers 28 are generally perpendicular to the vertical louvers 30. The angle of the vertical louvers 30 can be constant for all vertical louvers 30, or can vary for each individual vertical louver 30 to maximize airflow capture. The transversely outermost vertical louvers 30 can extend from the bottom of the radiator cover 26 to the junction 88 with the horizontal louvers. The vertical support 86 can be positioned between the transversely outermost extent of the vertical louvers 30 and the outer vertical side of the radiator cover 26. The vertical support 86 can extend vertically from the top of the lowest horizontal louver to the top of the radiator cover 26. Additionally, vertical supports 86 may extend vertically through the cutout portions 84 in the horizontal louvers 28 to provide stability and structural support to the horizontal louvers 28 and the radiator cover 26. The vertical supports 86 may be aligned with the laterally outermost vertical louvers 30 to provide a consistent aesthetic. The vertical supports 86 provide structural support to the radiator cover 26 and the horizontal louvers 28.

[0031] The lower center horizontal louver 28 can be coupled to the vertical louvers 30. The laterally innermost vertical louver 30 can have a recessed portion 44 that defines a clearance for the fender. The spacing of both the horizontal louvers 28 and the vertical louvers 30 is selected to minimize debris in the radiator 20. The vertical louvers 30 provide the benefit of capturing more airflow in two ways compared to having only the horizontal louvers 28. First, the vertical louvers 30 directly capture the lateral airflow around the front wheels 6. Second, the vertical louvers 30 indirectly affect the turbulence at the lower portion of the radiator cover 26, which creates more undisturbed airflow for the horizontal louvers 28 to capture. Due to the greater airflow capture, a smaller radiator 20 can be installed on the vehicle 2, which provides several benefits, such as increased space for other components, reduced weight of the vehicle 2, and improved performance characteristics.

[0032] like Figure 4 , Figure 6 , Figure 7 and Figure 8 As shown, the cooling assembly 14 is supported on the down tube 32 and supported below the front tube 34. More specifically, the radiator 20 is supported in a recess 40 ( Figure 7 ) so that the front tube 34 and the down tube 32 generally surround the cooling assembly 14. The cooling assembly 14 is mounted on the longitudinally extending frame arm 36 ( Figure 8 ) in front. The lower portion of the cooling assembly 14 is mounted to the mounting pegs 60 of the down tubes 21 using a bracket 58 of the radiator 58. In one embodiment, the mounting pegs 60 are defined by a peg extending laterally inward from each down tube 32, and the vibration isolators can be positioned on the pegs. Illustratively, the bracket 58 can be removably or permanently coupled to the lower portion of the radiator 20 and includes a U-shaped channel that is configured to receive the mounting pegs 60. The mounting pegs 60 are coupled to the lower portion of the down tubes 32. The bracket 58 is a pivot mount that enables the radiator 20 to rotate about the mounting arm 60. Installation of the radiator 20 involves placing the bracket 58 on the mounting pegs 60 and then rotating the radiator 20 upward to a position generally between the down tubes 32 and the cross member 80. When the upper holes 56 of the radiator 20 are aligned with the holes 52 on the cross member 80 and then the fasteners 46 ( Figure 4), the radiator 20 is maintained in this position. It will be appreciated that the fastener 46 is the same fastener 46 that also couples the cover 26 to the cross member 80, so that the holes 50, 52, 56 are aligned to receive a single fastener 46 to couple the upper ends of both the radiator 20 and the cover 26 to the frame 4. The hole 56 may be defined within the bracket 62 of the radiator 20. The radiator 20 can be freely rotated on the bracket 58 about the central axis of the mounting pin 60 without removing any individual component of the cooling assembly 14. The bracket 58 has several benefits: first, the bracket 58 provides simplified installation and removal of the entire cooling assembly 14 as a complete unit without the need to install or remove each component separately; second, the bracket 58 provides convenient access to other components on the vehicle 2 by removing the fastener 46 from the hole 52 and rotating the cooling assembly 14 outward from the down tube 32 without removing the entire cooling assembly 14. Finally, because the cooling assembly 14 is a single, removable unit, there is greater freedom in packaging the exhaust and other components on the vehicle 2 .

[0033] refer to Fig. 9 , the radiator 20, the fan 22, and the coolant bottle 24 are coupled together by fasteners 46. The coolant bottle 24 is coupled to the radiator 20 and is positioned directly below the lower portion of the radiator 20 by aligning the holes 64 of the coolant bottle 24 with the holes 66 of the radiator 20 and inserting the fasteners 46. The location of the coolant bottle 24 positions the coolant bottle 24 in an unused location of the vehicle 2, which creates additional space for other components elsewhere and reduces mounting points on the single unit cooling assembly 14. The fan 22 is coupled to the coolant bottle 24 by aligning the holes 68 of the fan bracket with the holes 70 of the coolant bottle 24 and inserting the fasteners 46. The fan 22 is coupled to the radiator 20 by aligning the holes 72 on the fan bracket with the holes 74 on the radiator 20 and inserting the fasteners 46. The holes 74 are located on mounting arms 76 on either side of the radiator 20. When the radiator 20 , radiator cap 26 , fan 22 , and coolant bottle 24 are coupled together, the radiator 20 , radiator cap 26 , fan 22 , and coolant bottle 24 form a single unit cooling assembly 14 .

[0034] refer to Fig.10 , a radiator cap 26 wraps around the bottom of the coolant bottle 24. The radiator cap 26 protects the coolant bottle 24 from debris. The coolant bottle 24 is positioned in front of a portion of the powertrain assembly 12, such as in front of the front end of the crankcase of the engine and in front of the oil filter 78. The coolant bottle 24 is illustratively positioned adjacent the lower end of the down tube 32. The shape of the coolant bottle 24 facilitates access to the oil filter 78.

[0035] Example

[0036] Example 1: A two-wheeled vehicle may include: a frame including a down tube; a plurality of ground engaging members for supporting the frame; and a cooling assembly including a radiator and a radiator cover. The radiator cover may include a plurality of horizontal louvers and a plurality of vertical louvers.

[0037] Example 2: A two-wheeled vehicle according to Example 1, wherein the vertical louvers can be positioned at an angle of at least 0 degrees to 45 degrees to the vehicle centerline.

[0038] Example 3: The two-wheeled vehicle according to Example 1, wherein a radiator cover can be coupled to the down tube and the radiator.

[0039] Example 4: The two-wheeled vehicle according to Example 1, wherein the innermost vertical louvers of the plurality of vertical louvers may be separated by a plurality of horizontal louvers.

[0040] Example 5: The two-wheeled vehicle according to Example 1, wherein the horizontal louvers may be generally parallel to each other and perpendicular to the vertical louvers.

[0041] Example 6: The two-wheeled vehicle according to Example 1, wherein the vertical louvers may be generally parallel to each other and perpendicular to the horizontal louvers.

[0042] Example 7: The two-wheeled vehicle according to Example 1, wherein the plurality of vertical louvers may extend vertically from the bottom of the radiator cover to the junction with the horizontal louvers.

[0043] Example 8: The two-wheeled vehicle according to Example 1, wherein the plurality of vertical louvers may have a concave portion.

[0044] Example 9: The two-wheeled vehicle according to Example 1, wherein the radiator cover and the radiator can be coupled to the frame at the same location.

[0045] Example 10: A two-wheeled vehicle may include: a frame including a downtube and a mounting arm on the downtube; a plurality of ground engaging members for supporting the frame; and a cooling assembly. The cooling assembly may include a radiator, a fan, a radiator cap, and a coolant bottle as a single structural unit.

[0046] Example 11: A two-wheeled vehicle according to Example 10, wherein the radiator is pivotably mounted to the down tube.

[0047] Example 12: The two-wheeled vehicle according to Example 10, wherein the fan and the coolant bottle can be coupled to the radiator.

[0048] Example 13: The cooling assembly of Example 10, wherein all components and the heat sink are movable together relative to the frame as a single structural unit.

[0049] Example 14: The two-wheeled vehicle according to Example 10, wherein the radiator cover and the radiator can be coupled to the frame at the same location.

[0050] Example 15: A two-wheeled vehicle may include: a frame including a downtube and a mounting arm on the downtube; a plurality of ground engaging members for supporting the frame; and a cooling assembly. The cooling assembly may include a radiator, a fan, and a coolant bottle, the coolant bottle being positioned below the radiator.

[0051] Example 16: The two-wheeled vehicle according to Example 15, wherein the fan and the coolant bottle can be coupled to the radiator.

[0052] Example 17: A two-wheeled vehicle according to Example 15, wherein the fan, coolant bottle and radiator can move together relative to the frame.

[0053] Example 18: The two-wheeled vehicle of Example 15, wherein the fan may be positioned above the coolant bottle and behind the radiator. The fan may be coupled to the coolant bottle and the radiator.

[0054] Example 19: A two-wheeled vehicle according to Example 15, wherein the cooling assembly is pivotably coupled to the frame.

[0055] Although the present invention has been described as having an exemplary design, the present invention may be further modified within the spirit and scope of the present disclosure. Therefore, the present application is intended to cover any variation, use or modification of the present invention using the general principles of the present invention. Further, the present application is intended to cover such deviations from the present disclosure within the known or customary practices in the field to which the present invention belongs.

Claims

1. A two-wheeled vehicle comprising: frame, including down tube; a plurality of ground engaging members for supporting the frame; as well as A cooling assembly includes a radiator and a radiator cover, wherein the radiator cover includes a plurality of horizontal louvers and a plurality of vertical louvers.

2. The two-wheeled vehicle according to claim 1, wherein: The vertical louvers are positioned at an angle of at least 0 degrees to 45 degrees from a vehicle centerline.

3. The two-wheeled vehicle according to claim 1, wherein: The radiator cap is coupled to the down tube and the radiator.

4. The two-wheeled vehicle according to claim 1, wherein: Innermost vertical louvers of the plurality of vertical louvers are separated by a plurality of horizontal louvers.

5. The two-wheeled vehicle according to claim 1, wherein: The horizontal louvers are generally parallel to each other and perpendicular to the vertical louvers.

6. The two-wheeled vehicle according to claim 1, wherein: The vertical louvers are generally parallel to each other and perpendicular to the horizontal louvers.

7. The two-wheeled vehicle according to claim 1, wherein: The plurality of vertical louvers vertically extend from a bottom of the radiator cover to a junction with the horizontal louvers.

8. The two-wheeled vehicle according to claim 1, wherein: The plurality of vertical louvers have a concave portion.

9. The two-wheeled vehicle according to claim 1, wherein: The radiator cover and the radiator are coupled to the frame at the same position.

10. A two-wheeled vehicle comprising: a frame including a down tube and a mounting arm on said down tube; a plurality of ground engaging members for supporting the frame; as well as Cooling assembly including radiator, fan, radiator cap and coolant bottle as a single structural unit.

11. The two-wheeled vehicle according to claim 10, wherein: The radiator is pivotably mounted to the down tube.

12. The two-wheeled vehicle according to claim 10, wherein: The fan and the coolant bottle are coupled to the radiator.

13. The cooling assembly according to claim 10, wherein: All components together with the heat sink move relative to the frame as a single structural unit.

14. The two-wheeled vehicle according to claim 10, wherein: The radiator cover and the radiator are coupled to the frame at the same position.

15. A two-wheeled vehicle comprising: a frame including a down tube and a mounting arm on said down tube; a plurality of ground engaging members for supporting the frame; as well as A cooling assembly includes a radiator, a fan, and a coolant bottle, wherein the coolant bottle is positioned below the radiator.

16. The two-wheeled vehicle according to claim 15, wherein: The fan and the coolant bottle are coupled to the radiator.

17. The two-wheeled vehicle according to claim 15, wherein: The fan, the coolant bottle, and the radiator move together relative to the frame.

18. The two-wheeled vehicle according to claim 15, wherein: The fan is positioned above the coolant bottle and behind the radiator, and the fan is coupled to the coolant bottle and the radiator.

19. The two-wheeled vehicle according to claim 15, wherein: The cooling assembly is pivotably coupled to the frame.

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