Quick-release fastener for carburetor bowl covers of classic motor scooters and similar vehicles

Abstract

Quick-release device for a carburetor bowl cover (airbox) of a motor scooter, in particular a classic Vespa vehicle, wherein the carburetor is arranged in a carburetor bowl which can be closed by means of a cover, characterized in that: • in at least one, in particular in two, existing threaded holes in the carburetor bowl, a bolt with an MS external thread and a spherical head is screwed in and • the lid has at least one, in particular two, bearing element(s), wherein each bearing element is designed such that the spherical head of the respective bolt engages in a form-fit and / or force-fit manner, so that a tool-free, vibration-damping snap connection is formed between the carburetor bowl and the cover.

Description

Title of the invention

[0001] Quick-release fastener for carburetor bowl cover (airbox) of classic motor scooters and similar vehicles, especially Vespa® vehicles. Technical field

[0002] The invention relates to a tool-free quick-release fastener for the detachable connection between carburetor bowls or carburetor housings and a cover (carburetor bowl cover, also called airbox) in which the carburetor is located. It belongs to the technical field of closure technology for closed carburetor bowls of two-wheeled internal combustion engines, in particular Vespa® engines. State of the art and task

[0003] On classic Vespa® production vehicles with an SI carburetor, the carburetor is located in a carburetor bowl, the cover of which is factory-sealed with two M5 screws (e.g., M5×50). This design has several disadvantages: tools are required, the long, unsupported screw travel makes it difficult to engage the threads, the screw heads are hard to access, and quick, reproducible opening and closing is not guaranteed.

[0004] The invention aims to enable the carburetor housing to be opened and closed quickly, safely, and without tools. Simultaneously, access to the air filter and carburetor jets for engine tuning should be facilitated, accelerated, and designed to minimize vibration within the available installation space. Description of the invention

[0005] The problem is solved by a quick-release device consisting of at least one turned part with M5 thread and spherical head (bolt) on the side of the carburetor bowl and a complementary, form-fitting bearing element made of elastic soft component in the newly designed cover.

[0006] The ball head snaps into the bearing element as a positive-locking snap connection, creating a tool-free plug connection between the carburetor bowl and the cover, which simultaneously dampens vibrations and provides an increased amount of internal air.

[0007] The device includes in particular: • A turned part with M5 thread and ball head (bolt) which is screwed firmly into the lower part or carburetor bowl. • a counterpart made of rubber-like material (bearing) into which the ball head firmly snaps, in the sense of a positive-locking snap connection, integrated into a new cover or also called airbox. • At the same time, the geometry of the new cover provides more air volume. The new carburetor bowl cover with integrated ball joint mounts made of a soft component can be fitted and removed without tools. It provides a secure hold and also dampens vibrations. Advantages of the invention

[0008] The invention has the following advantages in particular: • Secure, low-vibration fixing of the lid by means of a form-fitting and / or force-fit snap connection in the available installation space, without additional screws and without tools. • Reversibility, as the assembly uses only existing threads and all original parts remain unchanged and reusable.

[0009] Other advantages include: • Modularity: Adaptation to different geometries and volumes (e.g. using spacers or adjusting the bolt via a lock nut). • Faster access to carburetor jets and air filter through tool-free removal and replacement of the cover. • Improved flow characteristics due to the newly shaped cover with increased air volume in the carburetor area. Brief description of the drawings Fig. 1: shows the designed turned part with M5 thread and ball head (bolt) Fig. Figure 2 shows the bearing element as a receptacle made of an elastic soft component. (Coupling) Fig. 3: shows the locked combination of bolt and coupling. Fig. Figure 4 shows the bolt mounted on the original carburetor bowl (B) of a classic Vespa. Fig. 5: shows the newly designed, flow-optimized cover (Airbox “A”) with integrated bearing element (coupling). Fig. 2), the carburetor bowl (B) and a venturi spacer (C) Detailed description of at least one embodiment

[0010] In a preferred embodiment, the device comprises: • Two bolts as turned parts with M5 thread made of stainless metal, mounted in the factory threads of the carburetor bowl • a newly designed, flow-optimized lid with an increased internal volume to accommodate the bearing elements • Two rubber-like bearing elements, e.g. manufactured using 3D printing from TPU90A, which are held in the lid and provide a form-fitting connection for the ball heads. • Tool-free attachment of the cover via the snap connection between ball heads and bearing elements

[0011] The invention is not limited to specific materials or manufacturing processes; bolts, bearing elements and covers can be manufactured in different materials and using conventional methods, depending on the requirements. Function, handling and materials

[0012] The handling is preferably carried out as follows: 1. Remove the original carburetor bowl cover by loosening the two M5 screws. 2. Screw the bolts into the existing threads of the carburetor bowl. 3. Place the new cover with integrated bearing elements onto the ball heads until a slight click is felt.

[0013] When assembled, the cover fits snugly onto the carburetor bowl and is held in position by bolts and bearing elements; the connection dampens vibrations and at the same time provides an increased air volume for the carburetor.

[0014] Quick and safe access to the air filter and carburetor jets is ensured by removing the cover without tools.

[0015] Suitable materials for the bolts are non-rusting metals (e.g., stainless steels); The lid is to be made of petrol- and oil-resistant plastics with a temperature resistance of at least 60 °C, preferably higher, as well as suitable metallic materials. Possible manufacturing processes include turning, milling, machining, injection molding, thermoforming, and 3D printing, provided they are suitable for the respective material. scope

[0016] The primary application is in the carburetor housing of classic motor scooters, especially Vespa® vehicles with a closed carburetor bowl.

[0017] The invention is transferable to identical or similar carburetor housings of other models and makes, in which a carburetor is closed in a housing by means of a cover and quick, tool-free access is advantageous.

Claims

[1] Quick-release device for a carburetor bowl cover (airbox) of a motor scooter, in particular a classic Vespa vehicle, wherein the carburetor is arranged in a carburetor bowl which can be closed by means of a cover, characterized by , that: • in at least one, in particular in two, existing threaded holes in the carburetor bowl, a bolt with an MS external thread and a spherical head is screwed in and • the lid has at least one, in particular two, bearing element(s), wherein each bearing element is designed such that the spherical head of the respective bolt engages in a form-fit and / or force-fit manner, so that a tool-free, vibration-damping snap connection is formed between the carburetor bowl and the cover. [2] Quick-release device according to claim 1, characterized by, that the cover has an enlarged internal geometry compared to the original cover in order to provide an increased air volume for the carburetor. [3] Quick-release device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that the bearing elements are arranged as replaceable inserts in the lid and are made of a rubber-like, petrol- and oil-resistant elastic plastic, preferably TPU with a hardness of about 90A. [4] Quick-release device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that the bolts are made of a non-rusting metal [5] Quick-release device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized by , that at least one of the bolts is adjustable relative to the carburetor bowl in its screw-in depth and / or by means of a lock nut in order to adjust the preload and / or the locking position of the cover. [6] Quick-release device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by , that the geometry of the cover is designed to optimize airflow in order to improve the flow behavior of the air entering the carburetor. [7] Quick-release device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that the lid is manufactured as a single-level or multi-part component from a petrol- and oil-resistant plastic with a temperature resistance of at least 60 °C and / or from a metallic material. [8] Quick-release device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by , that the snap connection is designed in such a way that the cover can be fitted and removed solely by manually attaching and removing it without the use of tools. [9] Quick-release device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized by, that the connection between carburetor bowl and cover simultaneously acts as a vibration damper and reduces engine vibrations transmitted to the cover. [10] Quick-release device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized by that the device is reversible by removing the bolts from the existing threads in the carburetor bowl and reinstalling the original cover with the original screws. [11] Use of the quick-release device according to one of claims 1 to 10 on carburetor housings of classic motor scooters, in particular Vespa vehicles, as well as on identical or similar carburetor housings of other vehicles in which a carburetor is closed in a housing by means of a cover and tool-free, quick access to the carburetor and air filter is desired.

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