Inlet device for a semi-trailer truck

Abstract

Intake device for a semi-trailer vehicle, in which a fuel injection device (41) which injects a fuel and an intake port (27a) which draws in an air-fuel mixture which is supplied to a cylinder head (22b) are arranged in an air filter (25), wherein the air filter (25) comprises an air filter housing (75) and a filter (105) which cleans air drawn into the air filter housing (75), wherein the filter (105) divides a space in the air filter housing (75) in a vehicle width direction and overlaps at least partially with the fuel injection device (41) in the vehicle width direction, wherein a filter support element (78) has a front wall (78a), a rear wall (78b), a right and left pair of side walls (78m) and an upper wall (78c), characterized in that an opening (78g, h, j, l) is formed on the rear wall (78b) and the right and left pair of side walls (78m), and the filter (105) is arranged in the opening (78g, h, j).

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to an inlet device for a semi-trailer vehicle.

[0002] Conventionally, it is known that an air cleaner includes a filter inside, and a part of the filter has a cutout portion in which a fuel injector is accommodated (see, for example, JP 2016-088 424 A, on which the preamble of claim 1 is based).

[0003] While in JP 2016-088 424 A, the filter with the cutout portion ensures a compact air filter, a narrow space around the fuel injector causes uneven formation of an air-fuel mixture; therefore, an improvement was required to increase an intake amount of the air-fuel mixture sucked into an engine.

[0004] The object of the present invention is to provide an intake device for a semi-trailer vehicle which, in addition to reducing the size of an air filter, also ensures smooth formation of an air-fuel mixture and yet ensures the assurance of an intake amount of an air-fuel mixture to an engine.

[0005] To achieve the object, an inlet device for a semi-trailer vehicle according to claim 1 is provided. Preferred embodiments are specified in the subclaims.

[0006] According to a first aspect, the intake device comprises a fuel injector (41) that injects a fuel, and an intake port (27a) that draws in an air-fuel mixture supplied to a cylinder head (22b), arranged in an air cleaner (25). The air cleaner (25) includes an air cleaner housing (75) and a filter (105) that cleans air drawn into the air cleaner housing (75). In the intake device for the semi-trailer vehicle, the filter (105) separates a space in the air cleaner housing (75) in a vehicle width direction and at least partially overlaps with the fuel injector (41) in the vehicle width direction.

[0007] In a second aspect of the invention described above, the filter (105) may be arranged on the right and left sides of the fuel injector (41).

[0008] In a third aspect of the invention described above, the filter (105) may be arranged in an area that is equal to or greater than a length of the fuel injector (41) in a front-rear direction of the vehicle.

[0009] In a fourth aspect of the invention described above, the filter (105) may be arranged in an area equal to or greater than a distance from the intake port (27a) to an injection hole of the fuel injector (41) in the front-rear direction of the vehicle.

[0010] In a fifth aspect of the invention described above, the filter (105) may be arranged inclined such that an upper end in the vehicle width direction is arranged on an inner side with respect to a lower end.

[0011] In a sixth aspect of the invention described above, a duct (26) which guides air into the air filter (25) may be coupled to the air filter housing (75), and the filter (105) may be arranged to face an intake opening (73a) of the air filter housing (75) to which the duct (26) is coupled.

[0012] In a seventh aspect of the invention described above, the intake port (73a) of the air cleaner housing (75), the filter (105) and the fuel injection device (41) may each at least partially overlap in the vehicle width direction.

[0013] In an eighth aspect of the invention described above, the filter (105) may be arranged on the right and left sides of the fuel injector (41), and the air cleaner case (75) may have an upper wall (73e) on which a recess (73f) is arranged on an inner side in the vehicle width direction with respect to a right and left pair of the filters (105).

[0014] In a ninth aspect of the invention described above, the filter (105) is held by the filter holding member (78), which may have a filter-side recess (78k) formed in a shape extending along the recess (73f) of the air cleaner case (75).

[0015] The filter in the first aspect of the present invention divides the space in the air cleaner housing in the vehicle width direction and at least partially overlaps with the fuel injector in the vehicle width direction, thereby ensuring that an upper space of the fuel injector is largely formed, compared to a conventional configuration in which the filter is arranged on an upper side of the fuel injector to divide the space in the air cleaner into an upper side and a lower side. This ensures that an air intake amount of the air-fuel mixture to the cylinder head is stably ensured and ensures that the filter is arranged close to the fuel injector.In view of this, the air-fuel mixture flow of the fuel injected from the fuel injector and the air can be smoothly formed, and the air cleaner case can be downsized.

[0016] In the second aspect of the invention described above, the filter is arranged on the right and left sides of the fuel injector, and therefore, the air can be sucked evenly from the right and left filters, thereby ensuring that the air intake amount of the air-fuel mixture into the cylinder head is further stably ensured.

[0017] In the third aspect of the invention described above, the filter is arranged in the area which is equal to or greater than the length of the fuel injector in the front and rear direction of the vehicle, and therefore, the intake air from the filter can be smoothly supplied to the vicinity of the fuel injector, thereby further uniformly forming the air-fuel mixture flow of the fuel injected from the fuel injector and the intake air.

[0018] In the fourth aspect of the invention described above, the filter is arranged in the range equal to or greater than the distance from the intake port to the injection hole of the fuel injector in the front-rear direction of the vehicle, and therefore, the intake air from the filter can be smoothly supplied to the vicinity of the fuel injector, thereby further uniformly forming the air-fuel mixture flow of the fuel injected from the fuel injector and the intake air.

[0019] In the fifth aspect of the invention described above, the filter is arranged inclined such that the upper end is located on the inner side in the vehicle width direction with respect to the lower end, and therefore, the intake air from the filter can be smoothly supplied to the vicinity of the fuel injector, thereby further forming the air-fuel mixture flow of the fuel injected from the fuel injector and the intake air in a uniform manner.

[0020] In the sixth aspect of the invention described above, the passage that guides air into the air cleaner is coupled to the air cleaner case, and the filter is arranged to face the intake port of the air cleaner case to which the passage is coupled, thereby ensuring smooth supply of the intake air from the passage to the cylinder head via the filter.

[0021] In the seventh aspect of the invention described above, the intake port of the air cleaner case, the filter, and the fuel injector each overlap at least partially in the vehicle width direction, and therefore, the air taken in from the passage into the air cleaner case easily mixes with the fuel injected from the fuel injector, thereby ensuring smooth supply of the generated air-fuel mixture to the cylinder head.

[0022] In the eighth aspect of the invention described above, the filter is arranged on the right and left sides of the fuel injector, and the air cleaner case has the upper wall on which the recess is arranged on the inside in the vehicle width direction with respect to the right and left pair of filters, thereby ensuring reduced air resistance during traveling, for example, by an occupant who puts his head in the recess during traveling, without reducing the upper space of the fuel injector compared with a conventional configuration in which the filter is arranged on the top of the fuel injector to divide the air cleaner into an upper side and a lower side.

[0023] In the ninth aspect of the invention described above, the filter is held by the filter holding member having the filter-side recess in the shape that runs along the recess of the air cleaner case, thereby ensuring that a large space is formed in the air cleaner case by forming the filter-side recess in the shape that runs along the recess of the air cleaner case. Furthermore, by causing the filter-side recess to abut or be adjacent to the recess of the air cleaner case, it is ensured that this contributes to improved strength and reduced vibration of the upper portion of the air cleaner case. Fig. 1 is a left side view illustrating a motorcycle incorporating an intake device according to the present invention. Fig. 2 is a cross-sectional view illustrating the inlet device and an edge portion of the inlet device. Fig. 3 is a perspective view illustrating an air filter. Fig. 4 is a left side view illustrating the air filter. Fig. 5 is a front view illustrating the air filter. Fig. 6 is a plan view illustrating the air filter. Fig. 7 is a perspective view illustrating a filter element. Fig. Figure 8 is a plan view illustrating the filter element. Fig. 9 is a perspective view illustrating a state in which the filter element is arranged at an upper edge of a lower case. Fig. 10 is a cross-sectional view taken along a line XX in Fig. 1. Fig. 11 is a cross-sectional view taken along a line XI-XI in Fig. 1.

[0024] The following describes an embodiment of the present invention with reference to the drawings. Note that in the explanation, descriptions of directions such as front, rear, right, left, up, and down are identical to the directions with respect to a vehicle body unless otherwise specified. In each drawing, reference numeral FR denotes a front side of the vehicle body, reference numeral UP denotes an upper side of the vehicle body, and reference numeral LH denotes a left side of the vehicle body.

[0025] Fig. 1 is a left side view illustrating a motorcycle 10 incorporating an intake device 24 according to the present invention.

[0026] The motorcycle 10 includes a body frame 10A. The body frame 10A has a central portion in which an engine 11 is arranged. The body frame 10A has a front end portion in which a front fork 12 is steerably mounted. The body frame 10A has a lower portion in which a swing arm 13 is pivotally mounted up and down. The front fork 12 has a lower portion in which a front wheel 2 is mounted. The swing arm 13 has a rear end portion in which a rear wheel 3 is mounted.

[0027] The motorcycle 10 is a semi-trailer vehicle that includes a seat 38 on which a passenger sits. The seat 38 is arranged at an upper part of the body frame 10A.

[0028] A substantial part of the body frame 10A and the engine 11 is covered with a resin-made vehicle body cover 10B.

[0029] The body frame 10A includes a head tube 15, a right and left pair of main frames 16, a right and left pair of swing frames 17, a right and left pair of seat frames (not shown), and a right and left pair of sub frames 18.

[0030] The head pipe 15 is arranged at the front end portion of the body frame 10A. The right and left main frames 16 extend obliquely downwardly rearward from the head pipe 15. The right and left swing frames 17 extend downwardly from a rear end of the right and left main frames 16. The right and left seat frames extend upwardly rearward from upper portions of the right and left swing frames 17 to the rear of the vehicle. The right and left sub frames 18 extend obliquely downwardly rearward from lower portions of the right and left main frames 16 and are arranged at the front and obliquely upper sides of the engine 11 in a side view.

[0031] The head tube 15 rotatably supports the front fork 12 via a steering shaft (not shown). The front wheel 2 is supported on respective lower portions of the right and left pairs of fork tubes 12a constituting the front fork 12 via an axle shaft 2a. The front fork 12 has an upper end portion to which a handlebar 19 for steering is attached.

[0032] A pivot shaft 20 is inserted and secured in a vehicle width direction through the right and left pivot frames 17. The pivot arm 13 is pivotally supported by the pivot shaft 20. The rear wheel 3 is supported by the rear end portion of the swing arm 13 via an axle shaft 3a.

[0033] The engine 11 is a four-stroke engine with a single cylinder. The engine 11 includes a crankcase 21 and a cylinder portion 22 extending upward from an upper surface at a front portion of the crankcase 21.

[0034] The cylinder portion 22 includes a cylinder block 22a combined with an upper surface of the crankcase 21, a cylinder head 22b combined with the cylinder block 22a, and a cylinder head cover 22c covering an upper portion of the cylinder head 22b.

[0035] The cylinder portion 22 tilts rearward, and an axis 22d of the cylinder portion 22 also tilts rearward.

[0036] The engine 11 is supported by the front upper and front lower portions of the right and left swing frames 17 and the distal end portions of the right and left subframes 18. The crankcase 21 is arranged below the right and left main frames 16 and forward of the right and left swing frames 17. The cylinder head 22b overlaps the rear portions of the right and left main frames 16 in a side view.

[0037] A fuel tank 23 is arranged in front of the seat 38 and above the rear sections of the right and left main frames 16 and above the right and left swing frames 17.

[0038] The inlet device 24, which supplies air to the engine 11, is arranged between the head pipe 15 and the fuel tank 23.

[0039] The intake device 24 comprises an air filter 25, a right and left pair of channels 26 and a throttle body 27.

[0040] The air cleaner 25 is arranged between the head pipe 15 and the fuel tank 23, in front of the fuel tank 23. The air cleaner 25 cleans the air. Right and left ducts 26 extend rearward from a front surface of the motorcycle 10 to be coupled to the air cleaner 25. The throttle body 27 is coupled to an air intake port 22e on a front surface of the cylinder head 22b. The throttle body 27 has a front end portion in which an air intake port 27a is arranged.

[0041] The cylinder head 22b has a rear surface with an exhaust outlet (not shown) to which an exhaust pipe 28 is coupled. The exhaust pipe 28 extends rearward and passes below the seat 38 to be coupled to a muffler 29 located above the rear wheel 3. That is, the engine 11 is what is called a rear exhaust type, which takes in air from the front surface of the cylinder head 22b and exhausts the air from the rear surface of the cylinder head 22b.

[0042] A rear damper unit 30 is provided bridging between the swing arm 13 and the body frame 10A.

[0043] A right and left pair of supports 17a extending rearward from the right and left respective swing frames 17 include a right and left pair of respective steps 31 on which a rider places his feet.

[0044] The vehicle body cover 10B includes a front panel 32, a right and left pair of central side covers 33, a lower cover 34, an upper cover 35, and a rear cover 36.

[0045] The front cowl 32 covers an upper portion of the head pipe 15 and the front fork 12 from a front side. The right and left center side covers 33 cover the engine 11 from the sides. The lower cover 34 covers the engine 11 from a bottom side. The upper cover 35 covers between the air cleaner 25 and the fuel tank 23. The rear cover 36 covers the rear portion of the body frame 10A.

[0046] The front wheel 2 is covered from an upper side by a front fender 37. The front fender 37 is attached to the front fork 12.

[0047] Fig. 2 is a cross-sectional view illustrating the intake device 24 and a peripheral portion of the intake device 24 and a cross-sectional area of ​​a front upper portion of the motorcycle 10 (see Fig. 1), which is cut along a vertical plane passing through a center in the vehicle width direction. To facilitate understanding of the shapes, each of the filters shown in the drawing is shaded.

[0048] The air cleaner 25 includes an air cleaner housing 75 which is divided into an upper side and a lower side and consists of an upper housing 73 and a lower housing 74.

[0049] Inside the upper housing 73, a filter element 76 is arranged, which is fixed to a coupling portion between the upper housing 73 and the lower housing 74.

[0050] The filter element 76 configures a part of the air cleaner 25. The filter element 76 is configured of a filter main body 77 of a plurality of filters that remove dirt, dust, and the like in an air to purify the air, and a filter support member 78 that holds the filter main body 77.

[0051] The filter element 76 is formed in a shape along an inner surface of the upper housing 73. A space between the upper housing 73 and the filter element 76 is a dirty side 79A. A space between an inner side of the filter element 76 and an inner side of the lower housing 74 is a clean side 79B.

[0052] On the clean side 79B, the throttle body 27 is disposed on one side of the lower housing 74, and an upper fuel injector 41 is arranged to extend across the side of the upper housing 73 and the side of the lower housing 74. The upper fuel injector 41 has a distal end portion 41a at which an injection hole (not shown) is disposed for injecting fuel.

[0053] The throttle body 27 includes a cylindrically shaped air passage 27b and a rotary throttle valve 27c arranged in the center of the air passage 27b.

[0054] The air passage 27b has a front side on which a lower fuel injector 42 is mounted, which injects fuel into the air passage 27b. A bracket 43 is mounted on the air intake port 27a. The bracket 43 has a distal end portion on which the upper fuel injector 41 is mounted.

[0055] The upper fuel injector 41 is arranged on an extended line of an axis 27d of the air intake port 27a and the air passage 27b of the throttle body 27. The upper fuel injector 41 has the distal end portion 41a spaced apart from the air intake port 27a by a predetermined distance L1.

[0056] The upper fuel injector 41 overlaps a suction port 73a of the upper case 73 and the filter main body 77 (specifically, a front filter 101) of the filter element 76 in a side view.

[0057] The upper housing 73 has a lower edge portion in which an upper annular groove 73c and an annular upper flange 73d surrounding the upper annular groove 73c are formed. The lower housing 74 has an upper edge portion in which a lower annular groove 74c and a lower flange 74d surrounding the lower annular groove 74c are formed. The filter element 76 has a peripheral edge portion that is inserted into the upper annular groove 73c and the lower annular groove 74c.

[0058] The upper flange 73d and the lower flange 74d are fastened with a plurality of bolts 47 and nuts 48.

[0059] The upper fuel injector 41 has a length in a front-to-rear direction of L2. The front filter 101 constituting the filter main body 77 has a length in the front-to-rear direction of L3. A length from a front end of the front filter 101 to a rear end of a middle filter 102 (constituting the filter main body 77) arranged on the rear side of the front filter 101 is L4 (L4>L3). The length L3 is greater than the distance L1 (L3>L1) and greater than the length L2 (L3>L2).

[0060] As described above, (1) a side wall filter 105 as a filter is arranged in an area equal to or larger than the length L2 in the front-rear direction of the upper fuel injector 41 in the front-rear direction of the vehicle.

[0061] (2) The side wall filter 105 is arranged in a range equal to or greater than the distance L1 from the air intake port 27a of the throttle body 27 to the injection hole (the distal end portion 41a) of the upper fuel injector 41 in the front-rear direction of the vehicle.

[0062] With the configurations (1) and (2) described above, the intake air from the sidewall filter 105 can be smoothly supplied to the vicinity of the upper fuel injector 41, and thus an air-fuel mixture flow of the fuel injected from the upper fuel injector 41 and the intake air can be further uniformly formed.

[0063] Fig. 3 is a perspective view illustrating the air cleaner 25. Fig. 4 is a left side view illustrating the air cleaner 25. Fig. 5 is a front view illustrating the air cleaner 25. Fig. 6 is a plan view illustrating the air cleaner 25.

[0064] As in Fig. 3 to Fig. As illustrated in Figure 5, the upper housing 73 includes a right and a left pair of intake ports 73a that open obliquely downward toward the front at both side portions in the front portion. The upper housing 73 has an upper wall 73e in which a recess 73f is formed.

[0065] The lower case 74 is shaped to be vertically elongated and has a lower end portion in which a drainage hole 74e is disposed for discharging internal water.

[0066] The lower housing 74 has a front end portion on which a positioning portion 83 is arranged, which is connected to a coupling portion 16A (see Fig. 2) the respective front end sections of the right and left main frames 16 (see Fig. 2). The lower housing 74 has a bottom portion where an insertion hole 74f is opened through which the throttle body 27 (see Fig. 2) is passed through.

[0067] As in Fig. As illustrated in FIG. 6, the recess 73f of the upper case 73 is formed in the central portion in the vehicle width direction at the upper wall 73e and near a rear wall 73g. The recess 73f is a portion where a driver rests his head when leaning his upper body forward while the vehicle is traveling.

[0068] Fig. 7 is a perspective view illustrating the filter element 76. Fig. Figure 8 is a plan view illustrating the filter element 76.

[0069] As in Fig. 7 and Fig. As shown in Figure 8, the filter support member 78 of the filter element 76 has a front wall 78a, a rear wall 78b, a right and left pair of side walls 78m, and a top wall 78c. The rear wall 78b and the right and left side walls 78m include a right and left pair of coupling portions 78d, and the right and left side walls 78m include a right and left pair of front columns 78e and a right and left pair of rear columns 78f.

[0070] The upper wall 78c couples respective upper edges of the front wall 78a, the rear wall 78b, and the right and left side walls 78m. The right and left coupling portions 78d couple respective lower edges of the front wall 78a, the rear wall 78b, and the right and left side walls 78m. The right and left front pillars 78e and the right and left rear pillars 78f bridge the upper wall 78c and each of the right and left coupling portions 78d. The right and left rear pillars 78f are disposed rearward of the right and left front pillars 78e.

[0071] A right and left pair of front openings 78g, a right and left pair of middle openings 78h, and a right and left pair of rear openings 78j are formed on the rear wall 78b and the right and left side walls 78m. The right and left pair of front openings 78g, the right and left pair of middle openings 78h, and the right and left pair of rear openings 78j are each provided with a right and left pair of front filters 101, a right and left pair of middle filters 102, and a right and left pair of rear filters 103. The front filter 101 and the middle filter 102 constitute the side wall filter 105, which is arranged on the side wall 78m.

[0072] The upper wall 78c has a central portion at which a filter-side recess 78k is formed. The filter-side recess 78k is arranged within the recess 73f along the recess 73f of the upper housing 73, as shown in Fig. 6 shown.

[0073] Fig. 9 is a perspective view illustrating a state in which the filter element 76 is arranged on the upper edge of the lower case 74.

[0074] The filter support member 78 of the filter element 76 forms a cup shape as a whole. A portion (the right and left side walls 78m and the rear wall 78b) of a peripheral wall 78x (the peripheral wall 78x includes the front wall 78a, the right and left pairs of side walls 78m, and the rear wall 78b) of the filter support member 78 has openings (the front openings 78g, the middle openings 78h, and the rear openings 78j). The filters (the front filters 101, the middle filters 102, and the rear filters 103) are arranged at the openings (the front openings 78g, the middle openings 78h, and the rear openings 78j).

[0075] By arranging the front filters 101, the middle filters 102, and the rear filters 103 on the right and left side walls 78m and the rear wall 78b, a filtering area is further increased, thereby ensuring improved air purification capability of the filter and an increased volume of purified air. In addition, a volume of the clean side 79B, which is formed by the filter element 76 and the lower housing 74, can be further increased. Consequently, the air flow of the machine 11 (see Fig. 1) the air volume supplied may be increased to ensure that improved performance of the machine 11 is achieved.

[0076] Fig. 10 is a cross-sectional view taken along a line XX in Fig. 1.

[0077] The right and left coupling portions 78d are arranged along an upper annular extrusion portion 73h inside the upper annular extrusion portion 73h, where the upper annular groove 73c (see also Fig. 2) of the upper housing 73.

[0078] The upper annular extrusion portion 73h includes a front annular extrusion portion 73j, a right and left pair of side annular extrusion portions 73k, and a rear annular extrusion portion 73m. The front annular extrusion portion 73j is located at the front of the vehicle. The side annular extrusion portions 73k extend rearward while curving from both respective side edge portions in the vehicle width direction of the front annular extrusion portion 73j. The rear annular extrusion portion 73m is coupled in a straight line to the rear ends of the right and left side annular extrusion portions 73k.

[0079] The right and left coupling portions 78d include side coupling portions 78n and a rear coupling portion 78p. The side coupling portions 78n are arranged along the right and left side annular extrusion portions 73k. The rear coupling portion 78p couples the rear ends of the right and left side coupling portions 78n.

[0080] The right and left side coupling portions 78n form curved shapes that protrude outward in the vehicle width direction. The respective front filters 101 are arranged at the right and left front openings 78g, which include the right and left coupling portions 78n as one part. The right and left front filters 101 are arranged outwardly of the upper fuel injector 41 in the vehicle width direction. That is, the right and left front filters 101 and the upper fuel injector 41 are aligned in the vehicle width direction. Furthermore, the intake ports 73a of the upper case 73 are also aligned with the right and left front filters 101 and the upper fuel injector 41 in the vehicle width direction.

[0081] The respective center filters 102 are arranged at the right and left center openings 78h, which include the right and left side coupling portions 78n as one part. In the cross-sectional view in Fig. 10, the right and left center filters 102 are arranged on outer sides of the throttle bodies 27 in the vehicle width direction.

[0082] The respective rear filters 103 are arranged at the right and left rear openings 78j, which include the rear coupling portion 78p as one part.

[0083] The right and left front filters 101 and the center filter 102 are arranged at positions where the right and left ducts 26 and the right and left intake ports 73a of the upper case 73, to which the right and left ducts 26 are coupled, are extended. With this in mind, the air from the right and left ducts 26 is likely to smoothly hit and pass through the right and left front filters 101 and the center filter 102.

[0084] As described above, since the side wall filters 105 are arranged on the right and left sides of the upper fuel injector 41, the air can be evenly sucked from the right and left side wall filters 105, and thus the air intake amount of the air-fuel mixture to the cylinder head 22b (see Fig. 1) continue to be ensured in a stable manner.

[0085] The ducts 26 that guide the air into the air cleaner 25 are coupled to the air cleaner housing 75, and the sidewall filters 105 are arranged to face the intake openings 73a of the air cleaner housing 75 to which the ducts 26 are coupled.

[0086] This configuration ensures a smooth supply of intake air from the ducts 26 into the air filter housing 75.

[0087] As in Fig. 2 and Fig. 10, each of the intake ports 73a of the air cleaner case 75, the sidewall filter 105, and the upper fuel injector 41 overlaps at least partially in the vehicle width direction.

[0088] This configuration causes the intake air taken in from the channels 26 into the air cleaner housing 75 to mix easily with the fuel injected from the upper fuel injection device 41, and the generated air-fuel mixture can thus be easily supplied to the cylinder head 22b (see Fig. 1) can be supplied.

[0089] Fig. 11 is a cross-sectional view taken along a line XI-XI in Fig. 1.

[0090] The right and left front filters 101 (see Fig. 10) and the middle filters 102 of the filter element 76 are arranged so as to be vertically elongated at respective outer sides in the vehicle width direction with respect to a vehicle body centerline 115. Specifically, the front filters 101 and the middle filters 102 are inclined so that upper ends are located at inner sides in the vehicle width direction with respect to respective lower ends.

[0091] This causes the air, which, as indicated by an arrow A, is sucked from the right and left intake ports 73a of the upper case 73, which are arranged on outer sides in the vehicle width direction of the air intake port 27a of the throttle body 27a, to be sucked from the air intake port 27a of the throttle body 27 arranged below the filter element 76, making a gentle curve as illustrated by arrows B and C. In this case, the air flow passes through the front filters 101 and the middle filters 102 approximately orthogonally.

[0092] The above-described arrangement of the front filters 101 and the middle filters 102 can easily ensure that the air volume is sucked into the throttle body 27.

[0093] A peripheral edge portion 78q, which forms the lower portion of the filter support member 78, includes the front wall 78a (see Fig. 10), an annular lower peripheral wall 78r projecting downward from the rear wall 78b and the right and left coupling portions 78d, and an annular fitting portion 78s having a laterally facing T-shaped cross-sectional surface. The annular fitting portion 78s is formed on an outer peripheral surface of the annular lower peripheral wall 78r.

[0094] The annular lower peripheral wall 78r is arranged to extend along an inner side of a lower annular extruding portion 74g on which the lower annular groove 74c of the lower housing 74 is formed.

[0095] The annular fitting portion 78s is fixed to the upper annular groove 73c of the upper housing 73 and the lower annular groove 74c of the lower housing 74. Annular sealing elements 111 are arranged in the upper annular groove 73c and the lower annular groove 74c, respectively. Sealing is provided between the annular fitting portion 78s and a groove bottom of the upper annular groove 73c and between the annular fitting portion 78s and a groove bottom of the lower annular groove 74c with the respective sealing elements 111.

[0096] The above-described annular fitting portion 78s is a fixing portion for the filter element 76 to the air cleaner housing 75.

[0097] The recess 73f (specifically, an extruded portion 73n provided on one side of a lower surface of the recess 73f of the upper housing 73) of the upper housing 73 is caused to abut or be adjacent to the filter-side recess 78k of the filter support member 78. That is, the extruded portion 73n of the upper housing 73 fits into the filter-side recess 78k of the filter support member 78.

[0098] This supports the upper wall 78c of the filter element 76 (specifically, the filter support member 78), which has a height equal to a lateral width (for example, the lateral width of the upper wall 78c), with the upper wall 73e of the upper case 73. In view of this, the upper case 73 can reduce vibration of the filter element 76 in a front-to-rear and side-to-side direction associated with vehicle body vibration. Furthermore, the filter support member 78 attached to the upper case 73 ensures improved rigidity of the upper portion of the air cleaner 25, and in addition, it is possible to ensure weight reduction by reducing the wall thicknesses of the upper case 73 and the filter support member 78.

[0099] Right and left side walls 74h of the lower housing 74 include right and left upper side walls 74j, right and left step portions 74k, and lower side walls 74m. The right and left upper side walls 74j extend downward from the lower annular extrusion portion 74g. The right and left step portions 74k extend respective lower edges of the right and left upper side walls 74j inward in the vehicle width direction. The lower side walls 74m extend downward from inner edges of the right and left step portions 74k.

[0100] The right and left lower side walls 74m are arranged on inner sides of the right and left main frames 16 in the vehicle width direction. The right and left upper side walls 74j have widths in the vehicle width direction that are wider than the widths of the right and left lower side walls 74m in the vehicle width direction; therefore, the width of the lower end opening of the filter element 76 can be increased in the vehicle width direction, and finally, an area of ​​the lower end opening of the filter element 76 can be further expanded. Accordingly, the volume of the clean side 79B of the air cleaner 25 can be increased, thereby ensuring a contribution to an increased intake air volume.

[0101] As in Fig. 1, Fig. 2 and Fig. 10 described above, the intake device 24 of the motorcycle 10 includes the air cleaner 25, in which the upper fuel injector 41 as a fuel injector that injects fuel and the air intake ports 27a that draw in the air-fuel mixture supplied to the cylinder head 22b are arranged. In the intake device 24, the air cleaner 25 includes the air cleaner case 75 and the sidewall filters 105 as a filter that purifies the air drawn into the air cleaner case 75.

[0102] The side wall filters 105 divide the space in the vehicle width direction within the air cleaner case 75 and at least partially overlap with the upper fuel injector 41 in the vehicle width direction.

[0103] This configuration ensures that an upper space of the upper fuel injector 41 in this embodiment is formed wider than in the conventional configuration in which the filters are arranged on an upper side of the fuel injector to divide the space in the air cleaner into an upper side and a lower side. This ensures stable air intake amount of the air-fuel mixture to the cylinder head 22b and disposition of the sidewall filter 105 near the upper fuel injector 41. In view of this, the air-fuel mixture flow of the fuel injected from the upper fuel injector 41 and the air can be smoothly formed, and the downsized air cleaner case 75 can be ensured.

[0104] As in Fig. 10 and Fig. 11, the side wall filters 105 are arranged on the right and left sides of the upper fuel injector 41, and the recess 73f is arranged on the upper wall 73e of the air cleaner case 75 and on an inner side in the vehicle width direction with respect to the right and left pair of side wall filters 105.

[0105] This configuration ensures reduced air resistance by, for example, the occupant placing his head in the recess 73f during driving, without reducing the upper space of the upper fuel injector 41 in this embodiment compared to the conventional configuration in which the filters are arranged on the upper side of the fuel injector to divide the air cleaner 25 into an upper side and a lower side.

[0106] As in Fig. 2 and Fig. 11, the filter support member 78 that holds the side wall filters 105 has the filter side recess 78k formed in a shape that runs along the recess 73f of the air cleaner case 75.

[0107] This configuration ensures the formation of a wide space in the air cleaner housing 75 by forming the filter-side recess 78k in a shape that runs along the recess 73f of the air cleaner housing 75. Furthermore, the fact that the filter-side recess 78k abuts the recess 73f of the air cleaner housing 75 contributes to improved strength and reduced vibration of the upper portion of the air cleaner housing 75.

[0108] As in Fig. 7 and Fig. 11, the side wall filters 105 are arranged obliquely so that the upper ends are arranged on the inner sides with respect to the lower ends.

[0109] This configuration ensures that the intake air from the sidewall filters 105 is smoothly delivered to the vicinity of the upper fuel injector 41, thereby ensuring further smooth formation of the air-fuel mixture flow of the fuel injected from the upper fuel injector 41 and the intake air.

[0110] The embodiment described above is merely illustrative of one aspect of the present invention, and any modification and application is possible without departing from the spirit of the present invention.

[0111] For example, in the embodiment described above, the Fig. 2 overlap the center filter 102 in the vehicle width direction with the fuel injector in the vehicle width direction.

[0112] The present invention is not limited to the application to the motorcycle 10, but is also applicable to a semi-trailer vehicle that includes a vehicle other than the motorcycle 10. The semi-trailer vehicle includes a general vehicle that is ridden by sitting astride the vehicle body. The semi-trailer vehicle includes not only a motorcycle (including a motorized bicycle), but also a three-wheeled vehicle and a four-wheeled vehicle classified as an ATV (off-road vehicle). 10 Motorcycle (semi-trailer vehicle) 24 Inlet device 25 air filters 26 channels 41 Upper fuel injection device (fuel injection device) 73a Intake opening 73e Upper Wall 73f recess 75 air filter housing 78k Filter-side recess 105 Sidewall filter (filter)

[0113] To provide an intake device for a semi-trailer vehicle that, in addition to miniaturizing an air cleaner, ensures uniform formation of an air-fuel mixture while still ensuring an intake quantity of the air-fuel mixture to an engine.

[0114] In an intake device 24, an upper fuel injector 41 that injects fuel and an intake port 27a that draws in the air-fuel mixture supplied to a cylinder head 22b are arranged in the air cleaner 25. The intake device 24 includes the air cleaner 25, which includes an air cleaner housing 75, and a sidewall filter 105 that cleans air drawn into the air cleaner housing 75. The sidewall filter 105 separates a space in the air cleaner housing 75 in a vehicle width direction and at least partially overlaps with the upper fuel injector 41 in the vehicle width direction.

Claims

[1] An intake device for a semi-trailer vehicle, in which a fuel injection device (41) which injects a fuel and an intake port (27a) which sucks in an air-fuel mixture which is supplied to a cylinder head (22b) are arranged in an air cleaner (25), the air cleaner (25) comprising an air cleaner housing (75) and a filter (105) which cleans air sucked into the air cleaner housing (75), wherein the filter (105) divides a space in the air cleaner housing (75) in a vehicle width direction and at least partially overlaps with the fuel injection device (41) in the vehicle width direction, wherein a filter support member (78) has a front wall (78a), a rear wall (78b), a right and left pair of side walls (78m) and a top wall (78c), characterized by that an opening (78g, h, j, l) is formed on the rear wall (78b) and the right and left pair of side walls (78m), and the filter (105) is arranged in the opening (78g, h, j). [2] Inlet device for the semi-trailer vehicle according to claim 1, characterized by that the filter (105) is arranged on the right and left sides of the fuel injection device (41). [3] Inlet device for the semi-trailer vehicle according to claim 1 or 2, characterized by that the filter (105) is arranged in an area which is equal to or greater than a length of the fuel injection device (41) in a front-rear direction of the vehicle. [4] Inlet device for the semi-trailer vehicle according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized by that the filter (105) is arranged in an area which is equal to or greater than a distance from the intake opening (27a) to an injection hole of the fuel injection device (41) in the front-rear direction of the vehicle. [5] Inlet device for the semi-trailer vehicle according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized by that the filter (105) is arranged inclined so that an upper end in the vehicle width direction is arranged on an inner side with respect to a lower end. [6] Inlet device for the semi-trailer vehicle according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized by that a channel (26) is coupled to the air filter housing (75), which channel guides air into the air filter (25), and the filter (105) is arranged such that it faces an intake opening (73a) of the air filter housing (75), to which the channel (26) is coupled. [7] Inlet device for the semi-trailer vehicle according to claim 6, characterized by that the intake opening (73a) of the air filter housing (75), the filter (105) and the fuel injection device (41) each at least partially overlap in the vehicle width direction. [8] Inlet device for the semi-trailer vehicle according to one of claims 1 to 7, characterized by that the filter (105) is arranged on the right and left sides of the fuel injection device (41) and the air cleaner case (75) has an upper wall (73e) on which a recess (73f) is arranged on an inner side in the vehicle width direction with respect to a right and left pair of the filters (105). [9] Inlet device for the semi-trailer vehicle according to claim 8, characterized by that the filter support element (78) has a filter-side recess (78k) which is formed in a shape which runs along the recess (73f) of the air filter housing (75).

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