Motorcycle type vehicle

Abstract

The invention relates to a motorcycle type vehicle, comprising at least one laterally arranged air guide element, wherein the air guide element has an internal flow channel which ends at an outer surface of the air guide element in an opening which acts as an air outlet, and wherein the flow channel is connected or can be connected in a fluid-conducting manner to an air inlet which is formed or arranged at a distance from the air guide element.

Description

[0001] motorcycle

[0002] The present invention relates to a motor vehicle, in particular a motorcycle.

[0003] Aerodynamically effective profile devices for motorcycles are known from the prior art. For example, DE 10 2019 105 755 A1 discloses such a profile device, in particular for a tilting vehicle, with at least one aerodynamically effective profile body arranged on a supporting structure of the vehicle, around which ambient air flows when the vehicle is moving. Wings arranged laterally in this way on motorcycles are also called "winglets." It has been found that when cornering, the tilted position creates negative aerodynamic forces on the inside of the wing profile, pushing the motorcycle out of the curve in the direction of centrifugal force, which negatively impacts drivability.

[0004] It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a motorcycle which operates aerodynamically optimally even when cornering or in an inclined position.

[0005] This object is achieved by a motorcycle according to claim 1. Further advantages and features emerge from the subclaims as well as the description and the attached figures.

[0006] According to the invention, a motorcycle comprises at least one laterally arranged air guiding element, wherein the air guiding element has an internal flow channel which ends on an outer surface of the air guiding element in an opening which acts as an air outlet, and wherein the flow channel is fluidly connected or connectable to an air inlet which is designed or arranged at a distance from the air guiding element. Such air guiding elements, which are arranged laterally on the motorcycle, are also referred to as "winglets" (small wings). When cornering or when the motorcycle is leaning, negative aerodynamic forces can occur with conventional winglets, which pull or push the motorcycle outwards out of the curve in the direction of centrifugal force, which negatively affects drivability. The aim is therefore to eliminate the effect of the internal air guiding element as far as possible, either temporarily or as needed.This is done by taking advantage of the fact that when cornering there is higher pressure on the inside of the motorcycle than on the outside. In particular, overpressure occurs on the road side, i.e. on the inside, for example at the front edge of the fairing, if present, which can cause flow from the air inlet via the inside flow channel to the air outlet. This can cause the flow to separate at the inside wing. The effect of the inside air guide element is thus interrupted and the negative effects described above do not occur. If there is no pressure gradient as described above, there is no air flow through the air guide element or only an insignificant amount of air flow and the air guide element can function normally, for example when driving straight ahead.

[0007] It is advisable that the respective inlet is not arranged or designed in such a way that a dynamic pressure is created or applied which would cause a constant flow through the air guiding element.

[0008] According to a preferred embodiment, the motorcycle has at least one laterally arranged air guide element, which is designed to allow air flow through it. Motorcycles of the type in question are, in particular, scooters or, above all, motorcycles, which also include tilting vehicles, such as LNM vehicles (LNM - Lean Multiwheel).

[0009] As already mentioned, the air guide element is expediently designed as a wing or winglet. Such an air guide element essentially serves to generate downforce. The air guide elements are preferably positioned at an angle that is dimensioned such that the air guide elements generate maximum downforce at a specific angle. Viewed from the front, along the direction of travel, the air guide elements are preferably slightly inclined downward.

[0010] Preferably, the air inlet is arranged on the same side of the motorcycle as the air guide element connected to it by fluid flow. This makes it possible to utilize the higher pressure present inside the motorcycle when tilted to create a pressure gradient that causes air to escape from the internal air guide element.

[0011] Typically, the air guide element has a top and a bottom.

[0012] Preferably, the at least one opening representing the air outlet is formed on the underside. This allows the desired flow separation to be effectively achieved. Alternatively or additionally, it is also possible to provide one or more such openings on the top side.

[0013] Preferably, the at least one opening is arranged in the front area of ​​the air guide element. The term "in the front area" refers to the direction of travel. This allows for the earliest possible flow separation and thus the elimination of the aerodynamic forces of the internal air guide element.

[0014] According to one embodiment, the air guiding element has a longitudinal direction of extension, wherein a plurality of openings are formed along and / or transverse to the longitudinal direction of extension. If necessary, several rows of openings can be formed, wherein the openings can also be of different sizes. Optimal geometries of the openings, as well as shapes and / or sizes, are preferably developed in simulation. According to preferred embodiments, the opening(s) is / are round, in particular circular, or also slot-shaped, angular, or the like.

[0015] According to one embodiment, the motorcycle comprises an external flow channel that terminates in at least one opening that acts as the air inlet. The external flow channel is fluidly connected to the internal flow channel. The internal flow channel is connected to the air inlet via the external flow channel.

[0016] The air inlet is formed, for example, on a fairing of the motorcycle. As already mentioned, the air inlet is expediently arranged at a distance from the air outlet, which is formed in the air guide element. This allows for optimal positioning of the air inlet where the pressure is highest in the inclined position. This allows the pressure gradient to be realized, which enables airflow through the air guide element and thus causes the airflow to separate.

[0017] According to a preferred embodiment, the air inlet is arranged below the respective air guide element, as viewed along a vertical axis. This has been found to enable particularly effective flow separation on the inner wing. Further advantages and features will become apparent from the following description of a motorcycle with reference to the accompanying figures.

[0018] They show:

[0019] Fig. 1 : an embodiment of a motorcycle in an inclined position seen from the front;

[0020] Fig. 2: the section AA sketched in Fig. 1;

[0021] Fig. 3: the section BB sketched in Fig. 1.

[0022] Fig. 1 shows a schematic view of a motorcycle 1 in an inclined position. The motorcycle extends along a vertical axis H, which is correspondingly inclined to the right. A rider is not shown here. The reference symbol F denotes a direction of travel, which in this case emerges directly from the plane of the drawing. It can be seen that an air guide element 10 is formed on each side of the vertical axis or central axis H of the motorcycle 1. The air guide elements 10, which are inclined slightly downwards, each extend along a longitudinal direction L. Two air inlets 32 are sketched in a fairing 2 of the motorcycle 1, wherein it is schematically shown that a flow S is formed from the internal air inlet 32 ​​in the direction of the internal air guide element 10. The flow S runs, for example, along an external flow channel 30 into the corresponding air guide element 10, cf.in particular sections AA and BB.

[0023] Fig. 2 shows the section AA, as sketched in Fig. 1. The air guiding element 10 designed as a wing or winglet can be seen in section, in which an internal flow channel 20 is formed along its longitudinal direction L, which ends in an opening or an air outlet 22, cf. in this regard also Fig. 3. The air guiding element 10 has an outer surface 12, which comprises an upper side 14 and a lower side 16. The opening 22 is preferably formed on the lower side 16 and, with respect to a direction of travel F, rather at the front of the air guiding element 10. In an inclined position, there is an increase in pressure on the inside, which in this case is used to cause the flow on the inner wing or on the inner air guiding element 10 to separate.For this purpose, the pressure gradient is used to create a flow from the air inlet 32 ​​to the air outlet 22, whereby the air outlet 22 on the air guide element 10 causes the flow to break off at the same. The air guide element therefore temporarily loses its aerodynamic effectiveness and the counterproductive aerodynamic forces that occur when leaning and cause the motorcycle to be pulled or pushed outwards out of the bend due to centrifugal force are eliminated. The major advantage is that the effect described above does not occur when there is no such pressure gradient, as is the case, for example, with the air guide element on the outside of the bend or when driving straight ahead. It should be noted, however, that the air inlet is expediently not arranged in such a way that a dynamic pressure is created, which would otherwise cause a constant flow through the air guide element.

[0024] List of reference symbols

[0025] 1 motorcycle

[0026] 2 cladding

[0027] 10 Air guide element

[0028] 12 Exterior surface

[0029] 14 Top

[0030] 16 Subpage

[0031] 20 internal flow channel

[0032] 22 Air outlet

[0033] 30 external flow channel

[0034] 32 Air intake

[0035] S flow (direction)

[0036] L Longitudinal direction

[0037] H vertical axis, central axis

[0038] F Direction of travel

Claims

Claims 1. Motorcycle (1), comprising at least one laterally arranged air guide element (10), wherein the air guide element (10) has an internal flow channel (20) which ends on an outer surface (12) of the air guide element (10) in an opening which acts as an air outlet (22), and wherein the flow channel (20) is or can be connected in a fluid-conducting manner to an air inlet (32) which is designed or arranged at a distance from the air guide element (10).

2. Motorcycle (1) according to claim 1, wherein the motorcycle (1) has at least one laterally arranged air guide element on each side.

3. Motorcycle (1) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the air guiding element (10) is designed as a wing.

4. Motorcycle (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the air inlet (32) is arranged on the same side of the motorcycle (1) as the air guiding element (10) connected thereto in a fluid-conducting manner.

5. Motorcycle (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the air guiding element (10) has an upper side (14) and a lower side (16), and wherein the at least one opening is formed on the lower side (16).

6. Motorcycle (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the at least one opening is arranged in the front region of the air guiding element (10).

7. Motorcycle (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the air guiding element (10) has a longitudinal direction (L), and wherein a plurality of openings are formed along and / or transversely to the longitudinal direction (L). Motorcycle (1) according to one of the preceding claims, comprising an external flow channel (30) which ends in at least one opening which acts as the air inlet (32). Motorcycle (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the air inlet (32) is formed in a fairing (2) of the motorcycle (1). Motorcycle (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the air inlet (32) is arranged below the respective air guide element (10) as viewed along a vertical axis (H).

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