Reservoir tank installation structure

Abstract

To downsize a vehicle while ensuring sufficient capacity of a tank and minimizing an influence of downsizing on a vehicle body layout.SOLUTION: An installation structure of a reservoir tank (70) comprises: a main frame (12) which extends rearward from a head pipe (11); a down frame (14) which extends downward from the head pipe; a bridge (16) which connects the down frame and the main frame; a radiator (41) which is disposed in front of an engine (30) for radiating heat from cooling water supplied from the engine; and a reservoir tank which adjusts a flow rate of the cooling water inside the radiator. The reservoir tank is installed above the engine and behind the radiator so that, in a side view, the reservoir tank overlaps with a region surrounded by the main frame, the down frame and the bridge.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 4

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to an installation structure of a reservoir tank.

Background Art

[0002] In a water-cooled engine, a circulation flow path is formed in which cooling water from a water pump returns to the water pump via a water jacket in a cylinder and a radiator. As a motorcycle equipped with this type of engine, there is known one in which a reservoir tank for temporarily storing cooling water is installed below the engine (see, for example, Patent Document 1). In the engine described in Patent Document 1, the reservoir tank is installed by effectively utilizing the side space of an oil pan with relatively few parts, ensuring a sufficient tank capacity of the reservoir tank and suppressing an increase in the size of the vehicle.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] However, in the side space of the oil pan, the reservoir tank must be installed in consideration of not only the positional relationship with the drain bolt but also the minimum ground clearance, the bank angle, etc., and the influence on the vehicle body layout is large.

[0005] In view of this point, the present invention has been made, and an object thereof is to provide an installation structure of a reservoir tank that can achieve miniaturization of a vehicle while ensuring a sufficient tank capacity and suppressing the influence on the vehicle body layout.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0006] The installation structure of the reservoir tank according to one aspect of the present invention includes a main frame extending rearward from a head pipe, a down frame extending downward from the head pipe, a bridge connecting the down frame and the main frame, a radiator that dissipates the cooling water of the engine in front of the engine, and a reservoir tank that adjusts the flow rate of the cooling water in the radiator. The reservoir tank is installed above the engine and behind the radiator so as to overlap with the region surrounded by the main frame, the down frame, and the bridge in a side view, thereby solving the above problems.

Effects of the Invention

[0007] According to the installation structure of the reservoir tank according to one aspect of the present invention, the reservoir tank is installed by utilizing the dead space above the engine and behind the radiator. The tank capacity of the reservoir tank is sufficiently ensured, and the reservoir tank can be brought closer to the radiator. In addition, the cooling system components of the engine are compactly grouped together and do not interfere with the vehicle body frame, so it is possible to suppress the increase in the size of the vehicle while suppressing the influence on the vehicle body layout.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0008]

Figure 1

Figure 2

Figure 3

Figure 4

Figure 5

Figure 6

Modes for Carrying Out the Invention

[0009] In the installation structure of the reservoir tank according to one aspect of the present invention, the main frame extends rearward from the head pipe, the down frame extends downward from the head pipe, and the down frame and the main frame are connected by a bridge. The cooling water from the engine is radiated by the radiator in front of the engine, and the flow rate of the cooling water in the radiator is adjusted by the reservoir tank. The reservoir tank is installed so as to overlap the area surrounded by the main frame, the down frame, and the bridge in a side view, using the dead space above the engine and behind the radiator. The tank capacity of the reservoir tank is sufficiently ensured, and the reservoir tank is brought closer to the radiator. In addition, the engine cooling system components are compactly integrated and do not interfere with the vehicle body frame, so it is possible to suppress the increase in the size of the vehicle while suppressing the influence on the vehicle body layout.

Example

[0010] Hereinafter, with reference to the accompanying drawings, a saddle-type vehicle provided with the drainage structure of the cooling water of this embodiment will be described. FIG. 1 is a right side view of the saddle-type vehicle of this embodiment. In the following figures, arrow FR indicates the front of the vehicle, arrow RE indicates the rear of the vehicle, arrow L indicates the left side of the vehicle, and arrow R indicates the right side of the vehicle.

[0011] As shown in FIG. 1, the saddle-type vehicle 1 is configured by mounting various components such as an engine 30 and an electrical system on a vehicle body frame 10. A pair of main frames 12 extend rearward from the head pipe 11 (see FIG. 2) of the vehicle body frame 10, and the rear portions of the pair of main frames 12 are a pair of body frames 13 bent downward. In addition, a down frame 14 extends downward from the head pipe 11, and a pair of under frames 15 bent rearward are connected to the lower portion of the down frame 14. The rear end portions of the pair of under frames 15 are connected to the lower portions of the pair of body frames 13, and the vehicle body frame 10 is formed in a cradle shape.

[0012] A front fork 17 is steerably supported on a head pipe 11 via a steering shaft (not shown). A handle 18 is provided at an upper portion of the front fork 17, and a front wheel 19 is rotatably supported at a lower portion of the front fork 17. A fuel tank 21 is covered on an upper portion of a pair of main frames 12, and the main frames 12 and the fuel tank 21 are covered from the side by a front side cover 22. A seat 23 is installed behind the fuel tank 21, and a seat frame (not shown) that supports the seat 23 from below is covered from the side by a rear side cover 24.

[0013] A swing arm 25 is swingably supported on a body frame 13. The swing arm 25 extends rearward from the body frame 13, and a rear wheel 26 is rotatably supported at a rear end of the swing arm 25. An engine 30 is suspended inside a vehicle body frame 10 via a plurality of suspension brackets. At an upper portion of a crank case 31 of the engine 30, a cylinder assembly in which a cylinder 32, a cylinder head 33, and a cylinder head cover 34 are stacked is installed. In front of the cylinder head 33, a pair of left and right radiators 41, 51 (only the right radiator 41 is shown in FIG. 1) are installed.

[0014] In this type of saddle-riding type vehicle, cooling water circulates between the engine and the radiator, and there is a risk that the flow path may be damaged due to the expansion of the cooling water as the water temperature rises. For this reason, a reserve tank is installed in the saddle-riding type vehicle to adjust the flow rate of the cooling water in the radiator. When the cooling water expands due to a rise in water temperature, the cooling water is released from the radiator to the reserve tank, and when the cooling water contracts due to a drop in water temperature, the cooling water is returned from the reserve tank to the radiator. The reserve tank is often installed at the rear of the vehicle, but the piping from the radiator at the front of the vehicle to the reserve tank becomes long, making assembly difficult.

[0015] Also, although the reservoir tank is often installed below the engine, it is difficult to install the reservoir tank while ensuring the minimum ground clearance, bank angle, seat height, etc., and considering the position of the drain bolt and the oil drainage performance from the drain hole. In some cases, the entire vehicle body layout such as the engine shape and frame line needs to be reviewed. Therefore, in the installation structure of the reservoir tank 70 (see FIG. 2) of the present embodiment, the reservoir tank 70 is installed using the dead space outside the vehicle width direction of the vehicle body frame 10 and inside the vehicle width direction of the front side cover 22 above the engine 30 and behind the right radiator 41.

[0016] Referring to FIGS. 2 and 3, the engine cooling device will be described. FIG. 2 is a right side view of the periphery of the engine of the present embodiment. FIG. 3 is a front view of the periphery of the engine of the present embodiment. Also, in FIGS. 2 and 3, the exhaust pipe is omitted.

[0017] As shown in FIG. 2, on the upper part of the vehicle body frame 10, a pair of left and right main frames 12 and down frames 14 are connected via a pair of left and right bridges 16. Below the bridge 16, the engine 30 is suspended from the vehicle body frame 10. A cylinder 32 is attached to the crankcase 31, a cylinder head 33 is attached to the cylinder 32, and a cylinder head cover 34 is attached to the cylinder head 33. A clutch cover 35 that covers a clutch (not shown) is attached to the right side surface of the crankcase 31, and a water pump 36 that sends cooling water into the engine 30 is installed in the clutch cover 35.

[0018] As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, in front of the cylinder head 33, a right radiator 41 and a left radiator 51 are installed with the down frame 14 at the center of the vehicle interposed therebetween. The right radiator 41 is formed larger than the left radiator 51. In the right radiator 41, a right inlet tank 43 is installed at the lower part of the right radiator core 42, and a right outlet tank 44 is installed at the upper part of the right radiator core 42. A radiator cap 46 is attached to the water supply port 45 of the right outlet tank 44. In the left radiator 51, a left inlet tank 53 is installed at the upper part of the left radiator core 52, and a left outlet tank 54 is installed at the lower part of the left radiator core 52.

[0019] The right inlet tank 43 is connected to the outlet of the cooling water from the engine 30 via an inlet hose 61. A thermostat (not shown) is provided at the outlet of the engine 30, and the inlet hose 61 is connected to the engine 30 via the thermostat. The right outlet tank 44 and the left inlet tank 53 are connected via an inter-radiator hose 62. The left outlet tank 54 is connected to the water pump 36 via an outlet hose 63. A three-way pipe 64 is installed in the middle of the outlet hose 63, and the branch pipe of the three-way pipe 64 is connected to the upstream side of the thermostat via a bypass hose 65.

[0020] In the right radiator 41, the cooling water flows upward from the right inlet tank 43 toward the right outlet tank 44, and the heat of the cooling water is dissipated into the air while the cooling water passes through the right radiator core 42. The cooling water is sent from the right outlet tank 44 to the left inlet tank 53 through the inter-radiator hose 62. In the left radiator 51, the cooling water flows downward from the left inlet tank 53 toward the left outlet tank 54, and the heat of the cooling water is dissipated into the air while the cooling water passes through the left radiator core 52. The cooling water from the engine 30 is dissipated in two stages in front of the engine 30 by the right radiator 41 and the left radiator 51.

[0021] Also, at the inlet of the inlet hose 61, the flow of the cooling water is controlled by a thermostat. When the cooling water is below a predetermined temperature, the thermostat closes the valve, and the flow of the cooling water from the engine 30 through the inlet hose 61 toward the right radiator 41 is blocked by the thermostat. In this case, the cooling water is returned from the engine 30 to the water pump 36 through the bypass hose 65 upstream of the thermostat. When the cooling water rises above the predetermined temperature, the thermostat opens the valve, and the cooling water flows from the engine 30 through the inlet hose 61 to the right radiator 41 and the left radiator 51, and heat is effectively dissipated.

[0022] A cooling fan 55 is installed behind the left radiator 51, and a reservoir tank 70 is installed behind the right radiator 41. The reservoir tank 70 is formed of a translucent resin material, and the colored cooling water stored in the reservoir tank 70 is visible from the outside. An F line 71 and an L line 72 are provided as inspection lines on the side surface of the tank of the reservoir tank 70, and the appropriate liquid level of the cooling water is confirmed by the F line 71 and the L line 72. A water supply pipe 73 extends obliquely upward forward from the upper part of the tank of the reservoir tank 70, and cooling water can be added from the water supply pipe 73 when the liquid level of the cooling water drops below the L line 72.

[0023] Also, the lower part of the reservoir tank 70 is connected to the water inlet 45 of the right radiator 41 through a tank hose 74. When the cooling water expands during engine warming-up or the like, excess cooling water flows from the right radiator 41 into the tank hose 74 and is temporarily stored in the reservoir tank 70. When the engine 30 cools down and the cooling water contracts, the cooling water temporarily stored in the reservoir tank 70 is sucked into the tank hose 74, and the cooling water is drawn back to the right radiator 41. In this way, the flow rate of the cooling water in the radiators 41 and 51 is adjusted by the reservoir tank 70. Also, an overflow hose 75 for guiding the cooling water overflowing from the tank to below the engine 30 is attached to the water supply pipe 73 of the reservoir tank 70.

[0024] Referring to FIGS. 4 to 6, the layout of the reservoir tank will be described. FIG. 4 is a side view of the periphery of the reservoir tank of this embodiment. FIG. 5 is a top view of the periphery of the reservoir tank of this embodiment. FIG. 6 is a front view of the periphery of the reservoir tank of this embodiment. In FIG. 4, the front side cover is shown by a two-dot chain line, in FIG. 5, the fuel tank is shown by a two-dot chain line, and in FIG. 6, the left and right radiators are shown by two-dot chain lines.

[0025] As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, a reservoir tank 70 is installed on the right side of the vehicle body frame 10, and the vicinity of the water supply pipe 73 of the reservoir tank 70 and the fixing parts 77, 78 at the rear side of the tank are fixed to the outer surface of the main frame 12. A right radiator 41 is installed in front of the reservoir tank 70, and the fixing parts 67, 68 at two upper and lower positions of the right radiator 41 are fixed to the down frame 14. A fuel tank 21 is installed above the reservoir tank 70, and the fuel tank 21 is supported from below by a pair of main frames 12. The right side part 28 of the fuel tank 21 protrudes outward in the vehicle width direction from the main frame 12, and the reservoir tank 70 overlaps the right side part 28 of the fuel tank 21 in a top view. When the vehicle overturns, the damage to the reservoir tank 70 is suppressed by the fuel tank 21.

[0026] The reservoir tank 70 is located above the cylinder head cover 34 of the engine 30, below the upper surface of the main frame 12, and behind the right radiator 41. Also, in a side view, the reservoir tank 70 is installed so as to overlap a triangular region surrounded by the right main frame 12, the down frame 14, and the right bridge 16. In this way, the reservoir tank 70 is installed using a space with relatively few components above the cylinder head cover 34 and behind the right radiator 41. The reservoir tank 70 is brought closer to the right radiator 41, and a sufficient tank capacity is ensured for the reservoir tank 70.

[0027] As shown in FIG. 6, in the front view, the right radiator 41 overlaps the fuel tank 21, and a reservoir tank 70 is installed between the right radiator 41 and the fuel tank 21. The reservoir tank 70 serves as a windbreak for the fuel tank 21, blocking the exhaust air from the right radiator 41 to the fuel tank 21 and suppressing heat damage to the fuel tank 21. The heat shield plate for the fuel tank 21 becomes unnecessary, reducing the number of parts and suppressing the increase in the size of the vehicle. In the front view, the reservoir tank 70 is within the left - right width of the right radiator 41, and the right side of the reservoir tank 70 protrudes outward in the vehicle width direction beyond the fuel tank 21.

[0028] In the front view, a part of the reservoir tank 70 bulges inward in the vehicle width direction, and this part of the reservoir tank 70 enters between the right main frame 12 and the right bridge 16. By expanding the reservoir tank 70 using the space between the main frame 12 and the bridge 16, the tank capacity is ensured without the reservoir tank 70 protruding outward in the vehicle width direction, suppressing the increase in the size of the vehicle. Behind the right radiator 41, the main frame 12 and the bridge 16 incline inward in the vehicle width direction toward the front. Therefore, even if the reservoir tank 70 is installed behind the right radiator 41, the reservoir tank 70 does not protrude significantly outward in the vehicle width direction.

[0029] As shown in FIG. 4, the reservoir tank 70 and the right radiator 41 are covered laterally by the right front side cover 22. An opening 27 for design is formed in the front side cover 22, and the reservoir tank 70 is partially exposed through this opening 27. In the side view, the opening 27 of the front side cover 22 exposes the upper part of the reservoir tank 70 above the F - line 71 of the reservoir tank 70, and the front side cover 22 hides the cooling water in the lower part of the reservoir tank 70 below the F - line 71. Even with colored cooling water, the appearance of the vehicle is not impaired, and the water volume of the cooling water can be easily inspected by looking into the reservoir tank 70 through the opening 27 of the front side cover 22.

[0030] As shown in FIGS. 4 and 6, a water supply pipe 73 extends forward from the upper part of the reservoir tank 70 in accordance with the inclination of the main frame 12. A tank cap 79 is attached to a water supply port (not shown) at the tip of the water supply pipe 73. The tank cap 79 (water supply port) is exposed above the right radiator 41. Even if the reservoir tank 70 is installed behind the right radiator 41, the cooling water can be easily supplied to the reservoir tank 70 by removing the tank cap 79. Further, by extending the water supply pipe 73 upward from the reservoir tank 70, the reservoir tank 70 does not become large in the vehicle width direction, and the increase in the size of the vehicle is suppressed.

[0031] In addition, a radiator cap 46 is provided on the upper part of the right outlet tank 44 of the right radiator 41. In a front view, the tank cap 79 (water supply port) of the reservoir tank 70 is located between the radiator cap 46 (water supply port 45) of the right radiator 41 and the right main frame 12. The tank cap 79 of the reservoir tank 70 is installed by utilizing the empty space between the radiator cap 46 of the right radiator 41 and the main frame 12. Further, by bringing the radiator cap 46 and the tank cap 79 closer to each other, the water supply ports for the cooling water are gathered in one place, and the maintainability is improved.

[0032] As described above, according to the installation structure of the reservoir tank 70 of the present embodiment, the reservoir tank 70 is installed by utilizing the dead space above the engine 30 and behind the right radiator 41. The tank capacity of the reservoir tank 70 is sufficiently ensured, and the reservoir tank 70 is brought closer to the right radiator 41. In addition, the cooling system components of the engine 30 are compactly integrated and do not interfere with the vehicle body frame 10, so that the increase in the size of the vehicle can be suppressed while suppressing the influence on the vehicle body layout.

[0033] In addition, in the present embodiment, the vehicle body frame is formed in a cradle shape, but the shape of the frame is not particularly limited as long as the vehicle body frame is formed in a shape in which the main frame and the down frame are connected by a bridge.

[0034] In addition, in this embodiment, left and right radiators are installed on the front side of the vehicle body, but a single radiator may be installed on the front side of the vehicle body.

[0035] In addition, in this embodiment, a reservoir tank is installed on the right side of the vehicle body, but a reservoir tank may be installed on the left side of the vehicle body.

[0036] In addition, the drainage structure of the cooling water in this embodiment is not limited to the above-described straddle-type vehicle, and may be adopted in other types of straddle-type vehicles. The straddle-type vehicle is not limited to all vehicles in which the driver rides in a posture of straddling the seat, and also includes scooter-type vehicles in which the driver rides without straddling the seat.

[0037] As described above, the first aspect includes a main frame (12) extending rearward from the head pipe (11), a down frame (14) extending downward from the head pipe, a bridge (16) connecting the down frame and the main frame, a radiator (right radiator 41) that dissipates the cooling water of the engine in front of the engine (30), and a reservoir tank (70) that adjusts the flow rate of the cooling water in the radiator. The reservoir tank is installed above the engine and behind the radiator so as to overlap the area surrounded by the main frame, the down frame, and the bridge in a side view. According to this configuration, the reservoir tank is installed by utilizing the dead space above the engine and behind the radiator. The tank capacity of the reservoir tank is sufficiently ensured and the reservoir tank can be brought closer to the radiator. In addition, the cooling system components of the engine are compactly integrated and do not interfere with the vehicle body frame, so it is possible to suppress an increase in the size of the vehicle while suppressing the influence on the vehicle body layout.

[0038] In the second aspect, in the first aspect, the radiator overlaps the fuel tank (21) in a front view, and a reservoir tank is installed between the radiator and the fuel tank. According to this configuration, the exhaust air from the radiator to the fuel tank is blocked by the reservoir tank, and heat damage to the fuel tank is suppressed. Further, a heat shield plate becomes unnecessary, and reduction in the number of parts and increase in the size of the vehicle can be suppressed.

[0039] In the third aspect, in the first aspect or the second aspect, a part of the reservoir tank enters between the main frame and the bridge in a front view. According to this configuration, the tank capacity is ensured without projecting the reservoir tank outward in the vehicle width direction, and increase in the size of the vehicle is suppressed.

[0040] In the fourth aspect, in any one of the first aspect to the third aspect, a side cover (front side cover 22) that covers the reservoir tank from the side is provided, an opening (27) for partially exposing the reservoir tank is formed in the side cover, an inspection line (F line 71) for cooling water is formed on the side surface of the reservoir tank, and the opening of the side cover exposes an upper portion above the inspection line of the reservoir tank in a side view. According to this configuration, since the cooling water below the inspection line is hidden by the side cover, the appearance of the vehicle is not impaired even if the cooling water is colored. Further, the amount of cooling water can be easily inspected by looking into the reservoir tank through the opening of the side cover.

[0041] In the fifth aspect, in any one of the first aspect to the fourth aspect, a water supply pipe (73) extends obliquely upward in front from the upper part of the reservoir tank, and a water supply port at the tip of the water supply pipe is exposed above the radiator in a front view. According to this configuration, even if the reservoir tank is installed behind the radiator, cooling water can be easily supplied to the reservoir tank. Further, the reservoir tank does not become large in the vehicle width direction, and increase in the size of the vehicle is suppressed.

[0042] In the sixth aspect, in the fifth aspect, a water inlet (45) is provided at the upper part of the radiator, and in a front view, the water inlet of the reservoir tank is located between the water inlet of the radiator and the main frame. According to this configuration, the water inlet of the reservoir tank is installed by utilizing the space between the water inlet of the radiator and the main frame, and the enlargement of the vehicle can be suppressed. By bringing the water inlets of the radiator and the reservoir tank closer, the maintainability is improved.

[0043] Although this embodiment has been described, as another embodiment, the above embodiment and modification examples may be entirely or partially combined.

[0044] In addition, the technology of the present invention is not limited to the above embodiments, and various changes, substitutions, and modifications may be made without departing from the spirit of the technical idea. Furthermore, if the technical idea can be realized in another way by the progress of technology or another derived technology, the method may be used for implementation. Therefore, the scope of the claims covers all embodiments that can be included within the scope of the technical idea.

Explanation of reference numerals

[0045] 11: Head pipe 12: Main frame 14: Down frame 16: Bridge 21: Fuel tank 22: Front side cover (side cover) 27: Opening 30: Engine 41: Right radiator (radiator) 45: Water inlet 70: Reservoir tank 71: F line (inspection line) 73: Water supply pipe 79: Tank cap

Claims

1. a main frame extending rearward from the head pipe, a down frame extending downward from the head pipe, a bridge connecting the down frame and the main frame, a radiator for dissipating the cooling water of the engine in front of the engine, a reservoir tank for adjusting the flow rate of the cooling water in the radiator, and the reservoir tank is installed above the engine and behind the radiator so as to overlap a region surrounded by the main frame, the down frame, and the bridge in a side view. A structure for installing a reservoir tank, characterized in that.

2. The radiator overlaps the fuel tank in a front view, and the reservoir tank is installed between the radiator and the fuel tank. The structure for installing a reservoir tank according to claim 1, characterized in that.

3. A part of the reservoir tank enters between the main frame and the bridge in a front view. The structure for installing a reservoir tank according to claim 1 or claim 2, characterized in that.

4. Comprising a side cover that covers the reservoir tank from the side, an opening for partially exposing the reservoir tank is formed in the side cover, an inspection line for cooling water is formed on the side surface of the tank of the reservoir tank, and the opening of the side cover exposes an upper portion above the inspection line of the reservoir tank in a side view. The structure for installing a reservoir tank according to claim 1 or claim 2, characterized in that.

5. A water supply pipe extends obliquely upward from the upper part of the tank of the reservoir tank, and a water supply port at the tip of the water supply pipe is exposed above the radiator in a front view. The structure for installing a reservoir tank according to claim 1 or claim 2, characterized in that.

6. A water supply port is provided at the upper part of the radiator, and the water supply port of the reservoir tank is located between the water supply port of the radiator and the main frame in a front view. The structure for installing a reservoir tank according to claim 5, characterized in that.

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