motorcycle

Abstract

A motorcycle includes a frame, a running gear, a power system, a fuel supply system, and a body panel. The fuel supply system includes a fuel tank and a sealing cap. The body panel includes a protective cover plate located outside the sealing cap. The motorcycle also includes an electronic control system and a locking assembly. The locking assembly is used to lock or unlock the protective cover plate. The locking assembly includes a drive component and a locking component. The electronic control system is signal-connected to the drive component to control it. Under the drive of the drive component, the locking component can engage with the protective cover plate. The user only needs to operate a button module to send a command to the control module, which then drives the locking assembly to perform the unlocking action. This reduces the number of parts and assembly complexity of the system, greatly improving the convenience of operating the protective cover plate and the user experience.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This application relates to the field of vehicle technology, and more particularly to a motorcycle. Background Technology

[0002] In the motorcycle industry, protecting the fuel tank cap is a crucial aspect of ensuring fuel system safety. Related technologies commonly employ a mechanical key-operated cover structure to protect the fuel tank cap. This type of structure typically relies on complex mechanical transmission mechanisms to open and close the cover. This mechanical structure not only increases the number of parts and assembly complexity, leading to higher production costs, but also offers limited convenience in unlocking the cover with a mechanical key. Utility Model Content

[0003] In view of this, this application provides a motorcycle with a protective cover that is easier to open and close.

[0004] One embodiment of this application provides a motorcycle, including a frame, a running gear, a power system, a fuel supply system, and a body panel. The running gear is at least partially located under the frame. The power system is supported by the frame and provides power to the running gear. The fuel supply system is supported by the frame and provides fuel to the power system. The fuel supply system includes a fuel tank and a sealing cap. The fuel tank has a filler neck, and the sealing cap is detachably disposed at the filler neck. The body panel at least partially covers the frame and includes a protective cover plate disposed outside the sealing cap. The motorcycle also includes an electronic control system and a locking assembly. The locking assembly is used to lock or unlock the protective cover plate. The locking assembly includes a drive member and a locking member. The electronic control system is signal-connected to the drive member to control the drive member. The locking member can engage with the protective cover plate under the drive of the drive member.

[0005] In some alternative embodiments, the electronic control system includes a button module and a control module, the control module being signal-connected to the button module and the drive unit, and the button module being disposed on a protective cover.

[0006] In some alternative embodiments, the locking component includes a transmission element, a drive element and a locking element that are separately disposed, and the transmission element drivingly connects the drive element and the locking element.

[0007] In some optional embodiments, the driving member is fixedly disposed and has a driving end, the transmission member is a flexible connector, one end of the transmission member is coaxially fixedly connected to the driving end, and the other end of the transmission member is coaxially fixedly connected to the locking member. The driving member drives the transmission member to rotate so as to lock or unlock the protective cover through the transmission member.

[0008] In some alternative embodiments, the transmission element is a flexible shaft or a universal joint coupling.

[0009] In some alternative embodiments, the transmission element includes a cable and a support element, the support element supporting the cable, the cable connecting a drive element and a locking element, the drive element driving the cable to extend or retract, thereby locking or unlocking the protective cover via the cable.

[0010] In some alternative embodiments, the support is a conduit with a curved arrangement, through which a cable passes and is movable relative to the conduit.

[0011] In some alternative embodiments, the body panel further includes an outer panel supported by a frame and having an opening, a protective cover disposed in the opening and rotatably disposed with the outer panel, and a drive unit disposed on the outer panel.

[0012] In some alternative embodiments, the protective cover includes a main body and a hinge, the hinge being located on the side of the main body and fixedly connected to the main body, and the hinge being rotatably connected to the outer panel.

[0013] In some optional embodiments, the control module has an operating state and a locked state. When the control module is in the locked state, the control module interrupts the signal connection between the button module and the locking component.

[0014] By introducing an electronic control system and locking components working in tandem, the shortcomings of traditional mechanical key-type protective covers in terms of convenience and structural complexity are effectively improved. Specifically, the electronic control system signals control the actuator to move, which in turn drives the locking component to engage with the protective cover, completing the locking or unlocking process. This electronic control operation method simplifies the user's steps in opening the protective cover and improves the ease of opening and closing it. Attached Figure Description

[0015] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the overall structure of a motorcycle in one embodiment of this application; Figure 2 yes Figure 1 Enlarged view of the structure of section A; Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram showing the positional relationship between the locking component and the protective cover in one embodiment of this application; Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram showing the positional relationship between the locking component and the protective cover in another embodiment of this application; Figure 5 This is a schematic diagram of the locking component in another embodiment of this application. Detailed Implementation

[0016] To further illustrate the technical means and effects adopted by this application to achieve the intended purpose, the following description, in conjunction with the accompanying drawings and embodiments, is provided. Obviously, the described embodiments are only some embodiments of this application, and not all embodiments.

[0017] Unless otherwise defined, all technical and scientific terms used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which this application belongs. The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting of the application.

[0018] The following detailed description of some embodiments of this application is provided in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. Unless otherwise specified, the embodiments and features described below can be combined with each other.

[0019] Please see Figure 1 One embodiment of this application provides a motorcycle 100, including a frame 11, a body panel 12, a running system 13, and a power system 14. The body panel 12 at least partially covers the frame 11, the running system 13 is at least partially located under the frame 11, and the power system 14 is supported by the frame 11 and provides power to the running system 13.

[0020] For ease of description, this application defines the directions of front, back, left, right, up, and down. The front-back direction refers to the length direction of the motorcycle frame 11, the left-right direction refers to the width direction of the motorcycle frame 11, and the up-down direction refers to the height direction of the motorcycle frame 11. In this embodiment, the directions of front, back, left, right, up, and down are based on the motorcycle 100 traveling on a level road surface, not on a sloping road surface.

[0021] The walking system 13 includes a front wheel 131 located in front of the motorcycle 100 and a rear wheel 132 located behind the motorcycle 100, and the front wheel 131 and the rear wheel 132 are respectively rotatably connected to the frame 11.

[0022] The motorcycle 100 also includes a fuel supply system (not shown), which is supported by the frame 11 and provides fuel to the power system 14. The fuel supply system includes a fuel tank and a sealing cap. The fuel tank has a filler neck, and the sealing cap is detachably located at the filler neck.

[0023] The body panel 12 includes a protective cover 121, which is located on the outside of the sealing cover and is used to shield and protect the sealing cover. The structure of the protective cover 121 is designed to increase the difficulty for unauthorized personnel to directly access and operate the sealing cover, thereby reducing the risk of the fuel tank being maliciously opened in an unattended state and improving the safety performance of the fuel supply system.

[0024] Please see Figures 1 to 3The motorcycle 100 also includes an electronic control system 15 and a locking assembly 16. The locking assembly 16 is used to lock or unlock the protective cover 121. The electronic control system 15 includes a button module 151 and a control module (not shown). The control module is signal-connected to the button module 151 and the locking assembly 16.

[0025] The locking component 16 includes a driving member 161 and a locking member 162. The driving member 161 and the locking member 162 are separately disposed. The driving member 161 is fixedly disposed and has a driving end 1611. The locking member 162 is driven by the driving end 1611 and engages with the protective cover plate 121.

[0026] By connecting the button module 151, the control module, and the locking component 16 with signals, the user only needs to operate the button module 151 to send a command to the control module, which will drive the locking component 16 to perform the unlocking action. This replaces the traditional complex mechanical transmission mechanism and greatly improves the convenience of operating the protective cover 121 and the user experience.

[0027] In some embodiments, the button module 151 is integrated into the protective cover 121. Users can easily open the protective cover 121 by simply pressing the button module 151, which significantly simplifies the user's operation process. It is especially suitable for scenarios that require rapid response. While improving the convenience of operation, it also maintains the overall simplicity and aesthetics of the protective cover 121.

[0028] In other embodiments, the button module 151 is located at other locations on the body panel 12, such as near the handlebars, so that it is closer to the user's fingers, which can also improve the appearance integrity of the protective cover 121 and reduce processing costs.

[0029] In some embodiments, the control module is a control circuit board of the motorcycle 100, which is connected to the button module 151 and the locking component 16 via a ribbon cable or other wireless communication method.

[0030] Please see Figure 1 and Figure 3 In some embodiments, the protective cover 121 includes a main body 1211 and a hinge 1212, the hinge 1212 being disposed on the side of the main body 1211 and fixedly connected to the main body 1211.

[0031] The body panel 12 includes an outer panel 122, which is supported by the frame 11 and has an opening 1221. A protective cover 121 is located in the opening 1221 and is rotatably connected to the outer panel 122 via a hinge 1212. When the user needs to open the protective cover 121, the user presses the button module 151, causing the protective cover 121 to rotate backward and downward, thereby exposing the sealing cap of the internal fuel tank.

[0032] In other embodiments, the body panel 12 includes an outer panel 122 supported by the frame 11 and having an opening 1221. A protective cover 121 is located at the opening 1221, and a boss (not shown) is provided at the bottom of the protective cover 121. The protective cover 121 is engaged with the inner edge of the opening 1221 by the boss. When the user needs to open the protective cover 121, the protective cover 121 is unlocked by pressing the button module 151 and can be removed from the outer panel 122, which helps to reduce the impact of the protective cover 121 on the user's operation of the fuel tank sealing cap.

[0033] In some embodiments, the driving member 161 is fixedly disposed on the outer panel 122, and the locking member 162 is connected to the driving end 1611 and engages with the protective cover 121 to lock the protective cover 121 when it is necessary to lock the protective cover 121. Specifically, the driving member 161 is a motor used to drive the locking member 162 to move.

[0034] In other embodiments, the drive member 161 is fixedly mounted on other body panels 12 or directly fixed to a part of the frame 11.

[0035] In some embodiments, the locking assembly 16 includes a transmission member 163, which is tractively connected to the drive member 161 and the locking member 162. This design places the drive member 161 in an area away from the protective cover 121 and the fuel tank sealing cover, effectively optimizing the spatial layout around the protective cover 121 and helping to reduce the space encroachment of traditional integrated designs on the operating space.

[0036] Meanwhile, since the protective cover 121 is adjacent to the fuel tank's sealing cover, by moving the drive unit 161 away from the sealing cover, the risk of combustion and explosion caused by the electric arc igniting fuel vapor during motor start-up and shutdown can be significantly reduced, thereby greatly improving the overall safety performance of the motorcycle 100.

[0037] In some embodiments, the transmission member 163 is a flexible connector 1634, one end of the transmission member 163 is coaxially and fixedly connected to the drive end 1611, and the other end of the transmission member 163 is coaxially and fixedly connected to the locking member 162. The drive member 161 is a rotary motor, which drives the transmission member 163 to rotate, so as to lock or unlock the protective cover 121 through the locking member 162 via the transmission member 163.

[0038] In some embodiments, the transmission element 163 is a flexible shaft (e.g., Figure 3 (as shown) or universal joint type coupling (such as Figure 4 (As shown).

[0039] Optionally, the universal joint type coupling includes three shaft sections and two connecting members 1634. The three shaft sections are an input shaft 1631, an intermediate shaft 1632, and an output shaft 1633. The connecting members 1634 are generally universal joint hinges. Each connecting member 1634 is responsible for connecting two adjacent shaft sections, so that the input shaft 1631 and the output shaft 1633 located at both ends can still effectively transmit torque and motion even if their central axes do not coincide or are arranged at a certain angle.

[0040] During operation, the torsional torque of the drive component 161 is first transmitted from the input shaft 1631, and then through the first connector 1634 to the intermediate shaft 1632. Because the universal joint hinge allows for an angle between the two connected shafts, when the input shaft 1631 rotates, the intermediate shaft 1632 rotates accordingly, transmitting power to the second universal joint connector 1634, ultimately driving the output shaft 1633 to rotate. This double universal joint structure can compensate for angular deviations between the axes, ensuring continuous and smooth power transmission between non-collinear shafts.

[0041] Optionally, a flexible shaft is a flexible transmission element capable of transmitting rotational motion and torque while allowing for certain angular and positional deviations between its two ends. It is typically made of multiple layers of steel wire wound in a specific direction, exhibiting good bending fatigue strength. Flexible shafts are easy to install, can adapt to power transmission on non-concentric axes, and are commonly used in automotive, medical device, and remote control applications, effectively compensating for installation errors and improving system layout flexibility.

[0042] Please see Figure 1 , Figure 2 and Figure 5 In some embodiments, the transmission member 163 includes a cable 1635 and a support member. The support member supports the cable 1635. The cable 1635 connects the drive member 161 and the locking member 162. The drive member 161 drives the cable 1635 to extend and retract, so as to lock or unlock the protective cover 121 by driving the locking member 162 through the cable 1635.

[0043] Specifically, the support is fixedly installed on the outer panel 122 or the internal structure of the vehicle body, providing stable path support and guidance for the cable 1635. The two ends of the cable 1635 are connected to the output end of the drive unit 161 and the locking unit 162, respectively, forming a continuous force transmission chain. When the drive unit 161 operates, it drives the cable 1635 to perform precise axial extension and retraction, thereby transmitting linear displacement to the locking unit 162, controlling it to perform locking or unlocking actions on the protective cover 121.

[0044] The locking element 162 can be specifically represented as a pin, which achieves mechanical locking by directly inserting or withdrawing from the corresponding pin hole on the cover plate. It has a simple structure and high reliability.

[0045] In some embodiments, the support member is preferably a curved conduit 1636, which not only protects the cable 1635 from interference and wear with surrounding components, but also constrains the movement trajectory of the cable 1635 through its predetermined bending shape, adapting to complex vehicle body layout spaces. The cable 1635 can slide freely within the cavity of the conduit 1636, forming a relative kinematic pair, ensuring smooth and accurate power transmission. This method of using a flexible cable 1635 to transmit control force and motion over long distances effectively improves the flexibility of the system layout, while also allowing the drive component 161 to be placed in a safer or more space-saving location.

[0046] In some embodiments, the control module has an operating state and a locked state. When the control module switches to the locked state, it actively cuts off the signal path between the button module 151 and the locking component 16, forming an electronic isolation barrier. At this time, even if the button module 151 is accidentally touched, no unlocking action will be triggered, thereby effectively preventing unauthorized operations during vehicle use and improving the static security of the system.

[0047] When the control module returns to its operating state, the signal connection is re-established, and the button module 151 resumes its function, allowing the user to send a valid unlock signal by pressing the button. Upon receiving this unlock signal, the control module performs real-time verification and processing, and then sends precise control commands to the drive component 161. The drive component 161 responds to this command and generates corresponding mechanical actions, ultimately transmitting power to the locking component 162 via the transmission component 163 to complete the unlocking process. This state management mode not only optimizes the vehicle's power consumption by entering a low-power locking state during non-use periods, but also strengthens the operational safety logic through hardware and software collaboration, ensuring the accuracy and reliability of command transmission.

[0048] Furthermore, those skilled in the art should recognize that the above embodiments are merely illustrative of this application and are not intended to limit this application. Any appropriate changes and variations made to the above embodiments within the essential spirit and scope of this application fall within the scope of this application's disclosure.

Claims

1. A motorcycle, comprising: Frame; A walking system, at least partially located under the vehicle frame; A power system, which is supported by the vehicle frame and provides power to the running system; A fuel supply system, supported by the vehicle frame and supplying fuel to the power system, the fuel supply system including a fuel tank and a sealing cap, the fuel tank having a filler neck and the sealing cap being detachably disposed on the filler neck; A body panel that at least partially covers the vehicle frame, the body panel including a protective cover plate disposed outside the sealing cover; The motorcycle is characterized in that it further includes an electronic control system and a locking component, the locking component being used to lock or unlock the protective cover, the locking component including a drive member and a locking member, the electronic control system being signal-connected to the drive member to control the drive member, and the locking member being able to engage with the protective cover under the drive of the drive member.

2. The motorcycle as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The electronic control system includes a button module and a control module. The control module is signal-connected to the button module and the drive unit. The button module is located on the protective cover.

3. The motorcycle as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The locking assembly includes a transmission component, the driving component is separately disposed from the locking component, and the transmission component is drivingly connected to the driving component and the locking component.

4. The motorcycle as described in claim 3, characterized in that, The driving component is fixedly installed and has a driving end. The transmission component is a flexible connector. One end of the transmission component is coaxially and fixedly connected to the driving end, and the other end of the transmission component is coaxially and fixedly connected to the locking component. The driving component drives the transmission component to rotate, so as to lock or unlock the protective cover through the transmission component.

5. The motorcycle as described in claim 4, characterized in that, The transmission component is a flexible shaft or a universal joint type coupling.

6. The motorcycle as described in claim 3, characterized in that, The transmission component includes a cable and a support component. The support component supports the cable. The cable connects the drive component and the locking component. The drive component drives the cable to extend and retract, thereby locking or unlocking the protective cover through the cable.

7. The motorcycle as described in claim 6, characterized in that, The support is a conduit, which is bent, and the cable passes through the conduit and can move relative to the conduit.

8. The motorcycle as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The vehicle body panel also includes an outer panel, which is supported by the vehicle frame and has an opening. A protective cover is disposed in the opening and rotatably disposed with the outer panel. The drive unit is disposed on the outer panel.

9. The motorcycle as described in claim 8, characterized in that, The protective cover includes a main body and a hinge. The hinge is located on the side of the main body and is fixedly connected to the main body. The hinge is rotatably connected to the outer panel.

10. The motorcycle as described in claim 2, characterized in that, The control module has a working state and a locked state. When the control module is in the locked state, the control module interrupts the signal connection between the button module and the locking component.

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