Motorcycle with improved windshield

Abstract

Motorcycle (100) comprising a front steerable wheel (101) and rear driving wheel and a fairing having a windshield (1), the windshield (1) comprising a shell (2) defining the outer shape of the windshield (1), the shell (2) also defining an inner volume (3) wherein a handlebar (104), connected to the front wheel (101) through a suspension (105), is at least in part arranged, the windshield (1) further comprising at least one air channel (4) arranged in said inner volume, the air channel (4) comprising an inlet mouth (5) arranged in the bottom part of the windshield (1) and an outlet mouth (6) arranged in the top part of the windshield (1) close to a top edge (7) of the windshield (1). The inlet mouth (5) faces the front wheel (101), preferably the inlet mouth (5) is directed toward the ground (G).

Description

MOTORCYCLE WITH IMPROVED WINDSHIELDDESCRIPTIONTECHNOLOGICAL FIELD

[0001] The present invention relates to the motorcycle field. Preferably, the present invention relates to so-called "street" or "road" motorcycles. Even more preferably, the present invention relates to racing motorcycles, in particular for top-level competitions, such as MotoGP™.BACKGROUND ART

[0002] It is known in the prior art that the front of vehicles opposes air resistance when the vehicle moves forward. The wider or higher the front of a vehicle, the more air resistance it creates. The more aerodynamic the front of the vehicle, the less air resistance it applies.

[0003] On motorcycles, it is known to provide tapered fairings to improve the aerodynamic performance of the vehicle. In particular, the windshield of motorcycles, above all of road motorcycles, is tapered and pointed to better cut through the air.

[0004] Nonetheless, the front of the motorcycles is a surface against which air hits during the forward travel of the vehicle and this air accumulation on the front of the motorcycles creates an increase in air pressure, which leads to a number of negative effects.

[0005] On road motorcycles, air tends to accumulate in particular in the zone under the windshield and behind the front wheel, i.e., in front of the bottom portion of the front fairing, where the radiator is normally arranged.

[0006] This increase in air pressure in front of the radiator has beneficial effects on the radiator, as it promotes the passage of air through the radiator, improving the cooling thereof. Conversely, excessive overpressure in this zone of the motorcycle also leads to undesirable effects.

[0007] Indeed, the overpressure created in the zone under the windshield and in front of the radiator tends to permeate where it finds openings. In this respect, it is known to introduce air intakes in the bottom portion of the fairing to vent this overpressure. An example of this is provided in EP2311717B1, in which air is conveyed from a zone around the front wheel onto the sides of the motorcycle.

[0008] The aforesaid overpressure further tends to flow through the open space of the fairing used to allow the forks to travel, i.e., the space in which the forks rotate around the steering sleeve. This air enters through these openings and hits the instruments and the rider, creating problems to the vehicle and to the vehicle driving.

[0009] In this respect, it is thus known to close these passages by means of plates which prevent the air from passing from this overpressure zone to the inside of the windshield. An example of this is provided by US8177250B2, in which the front fork is provided with a plate which, by cooperating with the fairing, closes the fork travel hole, thus preventing the passage of air, water, and dirt. However, closing this passage does not solve the problem of overpressure, which therefore does not find a vent, slowing down the motorcycle.

[0010] In light of the above prior art, a need is felt in the latest generation of sport motorcycles to reduce this overpressure in order to improve the motorcycle performance and the rider's comfort.SUMMARY

[0011] It is the object of the present invention to solve the drawbacks of the prior art by means of a motorcycle comprising a front steering wheel and a rear drive wheel, and a fairing provided with a windshield. The windshield comprises a shell defining the outer shape of the windshield, the shell also defines an inner volume in which a handlebar, connected to the front wheel through a suspension, is at least partially arranged. The windshield further comprises at least one air channel arranged in said volume. The air channel comprises an inlet mouth arranged in a bottom part of the windshield and an outlet mouth arranged in a top part of the windshield close to a top edge of the windshield. By virtue of this type of windshield, it is possible to decrease the air overpressure formed in the zone in front of the vehicle and in particular in the zone below the windshield behind the front suspension. Indeed, the air in this zone is drawn, and not just conveyed, by the air channel, because the outlet thereof is in a zone of the motorcycle in which a low air pressure is formed. This suction effect allows decreasing the air overpressure under the windshield.

[0012] The inlet mouth can face the front wheel, preferably the inlet mouth is directed toward the ground. This positioning of the inlet mouth allows the overpressure air to be drawn from the zone under the windshield.

[0013] Advantageously, the outlet mouth can be arranged on an outer face of the shell so as to cause the air to outflow outwards with respect to the outer face. The outlet mouth thus conceived allows taking advantage of the airflow lapping the outer surface of the windshield and generatingan even stronger suction effect in the channel, due to the acceleration of the airflow flowing on the outer face of the windshield which carries the flow flowing in the air channel, where the two airflows meet.

[0014] In particular, the outlet mouth can be shaped so as to cause the air to outflow tangentially with respect to the outer face of the shell. The shape of the outlet mouth which makes the outflow from the air channel tangential to the outer face of the shell increases the suction effect mentioned above.

[0015] Preferably, the windshield can comprise a spoiler fixed to a bottom part of the windshield. In a motorcycle provided with a spoiler, the overpressure created in the zone around the front wheel can create vibrations at the spoiler or an abnormal aerodynamic behavior, worsening the stabilizing function of the spoiler.

[0016] In particular, a lower wing profile can be continuous with an air channel profile. By placing the air channel in fluid continuity with the spoiler wing, the pressure on the wing extrados is optimized, increasing the downforce of the wing itself.

[0017] Advantageously, the air channel can have a tubular shape and is attached to the shell. The laterally closed shape of the channel allows avoiding leakages or the creation of turbulences in the channel, and thus optimizing the effects of the channel itself.

[0018] Preferably, the windshield can comprise two air channels arranged symmetrically with respect to a median longitudinal vertical plane of the motorcycle. The symmetrical arrangement of the air channels allows for the avoidance of creating zones at different pressure in the front of the motorcycle, which could lead to instability of the motorcycle at high speeds.

[0019] In particular, the windshield can comprise a transparent windscreen, and the outlet mouths are arranged next to the transparent windscreen. This particular arrangement of the air channel outlets allows conveying the air drawn by the channel over the rider's shoulders when he / she crouched on the motorcycle and the latter travels at high speed.

[0020] Advantageously, the at least one air channel can comprise one inlet mouth and two outlet mouths. This particular shape of the air channel is an alternative shape to that of one or two independent air channels.

[0021] These and other advantages will become more apparent from the following description of an embodiment thereof, given by way of non-limiting indication, with reference to the accompanying drawings.DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0022] In the drawings:Fig. 1 shows an isometric view of a motorcycle according to a first embodiment of the present invention and in particular of the windshield thereof;Fig. 2 shows an isometric view of a motorcycle according to a second embodiment of the present invention and in particular of the windshield thereof including a spoiler;Fig. 3 shows an isometric bottom view of a motorcycle according to the first embodiment of the present invention;Fig. 4 shows an isometric bottom view of a motorcycle according to the second embodiment of the present invention;Fig. 5 shows a front view of a motorcycle according to the first embodiment of the present invention; Fig. 6 shows a side view of a motorcycle according to the second embodiment of the present invention;Fig. 7 shows a side view of a motorcycle according to the first embodiment of the present invention;Fig. 8 shows a side view of a motorcycle according to a first embodiment of the present invention with particular emphasis on the windshield thereof;Fig. 9 shows a diagrammatic section side view of a motorcycle according to a first embodiment of the present invention with particular emphasis on the windshield thereof;Fig. 10 shows a diagrammatic section side view of a motorcycle according to a second embodiment of the present invention with particular emphasis on the windshield thereof.DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0023] The following description of one or more embodiments of the invention refers to the accompanying drawings. The same reference numerals in the drawings identify identical or similar elements. The object of the invention is defined by the appended claims. The technical details, structures, or features of the solutions described below can be mutually combined in any manner.

[0024] In Figs. 6 and 7, a motorcycle is shown, as a whole, by reference numeral 100. In the other figures, the motorcycle is also indicated by reference numeral 100, although only some elements thereof are shown, such as the windshield 1, which is the main part of the present invention.

[0025] The present invention can be applied to motorcycles 100 with or without a front spoiler. In the first case, they are racing motorcycles which, in the present description, refer to the second embodiment depicted in Figs. 2, 4, 6, and 10. In the second case, they are high-performance roadmotorcycles which, in the present description, refer to the first embodiment depicted in Figs. 1, 3, 5, 7, and 9.

[0026] In the figures, some elements are shown with solid or dashed lines to make the shape and arrangement of other technical features of the invention clearer.

[0027] With reference to Fig. 1, a windshield 1 is shown, in which the shell 2 defines the external appearance thereof. The shell 2 has an outer face 2A, seen in the figure, and a tapered shape, which gives distinct aerodynamic qualities to the windshield 1. The shell 2 defines an inner volume 3, in which a handlebar 104 connected to the front wheel 101 by a suspension 105 is at least partially arranged.

[0028] The windshield 1 further comprises a cooling air intake 10 of the engine 106. The duct which allows conveying the incoming air from the cooling air intake 10 to engine 106 is not shown in Fig. 1, as well as in Figs. 2, 3, and 5.

[0029] An additional opening 11 for the camera is present above the cooling air intake 10. This aspect denotes that the motorcycle 100 shown is a racing motorcycle, preferably intended for use in the MotoGP ™ championship.

[0030] A Pitot tube 12 is present above the cooling air intake 10, which is used to measure the speed of the airflow in front of the vehicle mainly due to the forward travel of the vehicle by means of the driving power thereof, possible wind-related components, and possible components due to vehicles moving in front of the motorcycle 100. The presence of this device also denotes that the motorcycle 100 shown is a racing motorcycle, preferably intended for use in the MotoGP ™ championship.

[0031] The windshield 1, shown in Fig. 1, comprises at least one air channel 4 therein, arranged in the inner volume 3. The air channel 4 has an inlet mouth 5 placed in the bottom part of the windshield 1 and an outlet mouth 6 placed in the top part of the windshield 1. The terms "top part" and "bottom part" means the portions of an element, in the specific case of the windshield 1, with respect to the ground G and considering the motorcycle 100 in an upright, non-rolled position.

[0032] In particular, there are two air channels 4, the extension of which is diagrammatically shown with dashed lines, which are symmetrical with respect to a centerline plane M of the motorcycle 100, better shown in Fig. 5.

[0033] The inlet mouths 5 cannot be clearly seen in Fig. 1 and are better shown in Fig. 3 or 9, which depicts the same motorcycle 100 seen from below.

[0034] The outlet mouths 6 are arranged on the shell 2 of the windshield 1 close to the upper edge 7 thereof.

[0035] The outlet mouths 6 are arranged to the right and left of the motorcycle 100, symmetrically with respect to the centerline plane M, i.e., the longitudinal vertical plane which divides the motorcycle 100 into two nearly symmetrical parts, as better shown in Fig. 5.

[0036] The outlet mouth 6 is further shaped so that the outflow from the mouth is tangential to the mouth itself and substantially parallel to the airflow lapping the outer face 2A of the shell 2, as better shown in Fig. 9. In particular, the rear edge of the outlet mouth 6 is substantially coplanar with the outer face 2A of the shell 2, while the front edge of the outlet mouth 6 creates a cusp with the outer face 2A of the shell 2. In an alternative embodiment, not shown, the latter edge can be shaped so as to create a curvature slightly protruding outwards, so as to further accelerate the airflow lapping the shell 2 externally and increase the suction effect in the air channel 4.

[0037] The air channel 4 is substantially tubular, as can be seen through air intake 10 in Fig. 1 and in the section in Fig. 9. The air channel 4 runs behind the shell 2 and is rigidly connected to the latter.

[0038] As can be seen in Fig. 9, the inlet mouth 5 faces the wheel 101 and therefore is directed toward the ground G. The inlet mouth 5 is shaped so that the air inlet direction into the air channel 4 is substantially parallel to the extension direction of the front suspension 105.

[0039] The front suspension 105 generally is a telescopic fork, which is connected to the front wheel 101 at the bottom and to the handlebar 104 at the top. The fork is further hinged to the frame (not shown) to allow steering the front wheel 101.

[0040] The front suspension 105, or fork, to be capable of rotating with respect to the rest of the motorcycle 100. For this purpose, the fork moves within a slot 108 obtained in the fairing 103, as shown in Fig. 3. Through these slots 108, the overpressure air under the windshield 1 could flow out and thus hit the instruments 110, e.g., the speedometer, as well as the rider 200, as better shown in Fig. 9. In order to avoid this air current from the zone under the windshield 1 to the inner volume 3 of the windshield 1, a closing plate 109, shown in Fig. 9, is connected to the front suspension 105 to slide on the fairing 103, and specifically on the inner wall of the bottom of the windshield 1.

[0041] The air hitting the motorcycle 100 during the forward travel thereof, in particular when at high speed, strikes the front of the motorcycle 100 and creates an overpressure zone HP in the area under the windshield 1 and in front of the radiator 107, as shown in Figs. 1, 3, 5, 8 and 9.

[0042] The air hitting the windshield 1 is cut through and diverges by flowing over the outer face 2A thereof. Close to the upper edge 7 of the shell 2, a low pressure zone LP is created, in particular at lower pressure than in the aforementioned overpressure zone situated under the windshield.

[0043] The terms "overpressure" and "low pressure" are to be understood as mutually related. The pressure in the overpressure zone HP is greater or much greater than the pressure in the low pressure zone LP.

[0044] For this reason, by putting the overpressure zone HP in fluid communication with the low pressure zone LP by means of the air channel 4 and the inlet and outlet mouths 5, 6 thereof, a rather powerful and effective air suction effect is achieved, which tends to reduce the pressure in the aforesaid overpressure zone HP.

[0045] With reference to what has been described so far for the first embodiment, the second embodiment is now detailed, which differs from the first one only by the presence of the spoiler 8, as shown in Figs. 2, 4, 6, and 10, also referred to as the front spoiler 8. Therefore, what has been described so far for the first embodiment also applies to the second embodiment. In particular, what has been described regarding Fig. 1 also applies to Fig. 2, what has been described for Fig. 3 also applies to Fig. 4, what has been described for Fig. 7 applies to Fig. 6, and what has been described for Fig. 9 also applies to Fig. 10.

[0046] The front spoiler 8 is fixed to the windshield 2 and in particular to the shell 2 thereof through fixing means shown in Fig. 2. The front spoiler 8 aims to stabilize the motorcycle 100 and create a downforce effect on the front end of the motorcycle 100.

[0047] When the air pressure increases in the zone under the windshield 1, the front spoiler 8 is no longer capable of causing the air to flow effectively thereon and the downforce effect thereof is lower. For this reason, the present invention places the inlet mouth 5 of the air channel 4 behind the wing 8B, as better shown in Figs. 4 and 10. Therefore, the pressure that it creates on the extrados of the lower profile 8A of wing 8B is reduced by the suction effect of air channel 4, and the front spoiler 8 has a much more efficient behavior.

[0048] Preferably, in order to maximize this effect, the lower profile 8A of the wing 8B of the front spoiler 8 is coplanar with the front inlet edge of the inlet mouth 5, as shown in Fig. 10, so as to avoid a detachment of the fluid streamline when the flow moves from the front spoiler 8 to the air channel 4.

[0049] In the two embodiments, there are shown air channels 4 arranged symmetrically on the right and left sides of the motorcycle 100 and including respective inlet mouths 5 and outlet mouths 6. In an embodiment, not shown, the air channels 4 can arise from a single, common inlet mouth and extend toward two outlet mouths.

[0050] According to an advantageous embodiment, the windshield 1 comprises a transparent windscreen 9, and the outlet mouths 6 are arranged next to the transparent windscreen 9.

[0051] In conclusion, it is apparent that the invention thus devised is susceptible to several modifications or variations, all falling within the invention; moreover, all details are replaceable by technically equivalent elements. In practice, the amounts may be varied according to technical requirements.

[0052] Key:1 windshield2 shell2A outer face (of the shell)3 volume (inside the windshield)4 air channel4A profile (of the air channel)5 inlet mouth (of the air channel)6 outlet mouth (of the air channel)7 top edge (of the shell)8 spoiler8A lower profile (of the spoiler)8B wing (of the spoiler)9 windscreen10 cooling air intake (of the engine)11 opening for the camera12 Pitot tube100 motorcycle101 front wheel102 rear wheel103 fairing104 handlebar105 front suspension106 engine107 radiator108 suspension slots109 closing plate110 instrumentsM median planeG groundHP overpressure zoneLP low pressure zone

Claims

CLAIMS1. Motorcycle (100) comprising a front steerable wheel (101) and rear driving wheel (102) and a fairing (103) having a windshield (1), the windshield (1) comprising a shell (2) defining the outer shape of the windshield (1), the shell (2) also defining an inner volume (3) wherein a handlebar (104), connected to the front wheel (101) through a suspension (105), is at least in part arranged, the windshield (1) also comprising at least one air channel (4) arranged in said inner volume (3), the air channel (4) comprising an inlet mouth (5) arranged in a bottom part of the windshield (1) and an outlet mouth (6) arranged in a top part of the windshield (1) close to a top edge (7) of the windshield (1), wherein the inlet mouth (5) faces toward the front wheel (101), preferably the inlet mouth (5) is directed toward the ground (G).

2. Motorcycle (100) according to claim 1, wherein the outlet mouth (6) is arranged on an outer face (2A) of the shell (2) so as to outflow the air outwards with respect to the outer face (2A).

3. Motorcycle (100) according to claim 2, wherein the outlet mouth (6) is shaped so as to tangentially outflow the air with respect to the outer face (2A) of the shell (2).

4. Motorcycle (100) according to any one of preceding claims, wherein the windshield (1) comprises a spoiler (8) attached to a bottom part of the windshield (1).

5. Motorcycle (100) according to claim 4, wherein a lower profile (8A) of the spoiler (8) is continuous with a profile (4A) of the air channel (4).

6. Motorcycle (100) according to any one of preceding claims, wherein the air channel (4) has a tubular shape and is attached to the shell (2).

7. Motorcycle (100) according to any one of preceding claims, wherein the windshield (1) comprises two air channels (4) that are symmetrically arranged with respect to a median longitudinal vertical plane (M) of the motorcycle (100).

8. Motorcycle (100) according to claim 7, wherein the windshield (1) comprises a transparent windscreen (9) and the outlet mouths (6) are arranged beside the transparent windscreen (9).

9. Motorcycle (100) according to any one of preceding claims, wherein the at least one air channel (4) comprises one inlet mouth (5) and two outlet mouths (6).

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