Saddle-type vehicle

Abstract

The hydraulic unit is compactly installed at the front of the vehicle to keep the overall size of the vehicle down. [Solution] The saddle-type vehicle (1) is provided with a hydraulic unit (71) that receives operating force to adjust the brake fluid pressure, a heat exchanger (65) that dissipates heat from the coolant or engine oil to the outside, and a vehicle frame (10) that supports the hydraulic unit and the heat exchanger. The hydraulic unit is located above the heat exchanger, and in a top view, at least a part of the hydraulic unit overlaps the heat exchanger.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a saddle-type vehicle.

Background Art

[0002] As a saddle-type vehicle, there is known one equipped with an ABS (Anti-lock Braking System) device that avoids locking of the front wheels during sudden braking (see, for example, Patent Document 1). In the saddle-type vehicle described in Patent Document 1, a pair of main frames extend rearward while spreading left and right from the head pipe, and this pair of main frames is covered from the outside in the vehicle width direction by a front cowl. An ABS device is supported on the right main frame via a stay and is installed in the space between the right main frame and the front cowl.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] In the saddle-type vehicle described in Patent Document 1, the ABS device is positioned outside the main frame in the vehicle width direction, and an external impact on the ABS device during vehicle rollover is mitigated by a protection frame. However, when a protection frame is provided outside the main frame, there is a problem that the space between the main frame and the front cowl becomes larger and the vehicle body becomes larger. Also, the same problem can occur with hydraulic units other than the ABS device.

[0005] The present invention has been made in view of this point, and an object thereof is to provide a saddle-type vehicle capable of compactly installing a hydraulic unit at the front part of the vehicle and suppressing an increase in the size of the vehicle. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] A saddle-type vehicle according to one aspect of the present invention comprises a hydraulic unit that adjusts the brake fluid pressure upon receiving an operating force, a heat exchanger that dissipates heat from cooling water or engine oil to the outside, and a vehicle frame that supports the hydraulic unit and the heat exchanger, wherein the hydraulic unit is positioned above the heat exchanger, and at least a part of the hydraulic unit overlaps the heat exchanger in a top view, thereby solving the above problem. [Effects of the Invention]

[0007] According to one embodiment of the present invention, a saddle-type vehicle has a hydraulic unit that is positioned on top of a heat exchanger, which causes the hydraulic unit to be moved inward in the vehicle width direction, thus suppressing an increase in the vehicle width dimension. Furthermore, because the hydraulic unit is positioned above the heat exchanger, the hot air that has passed through the heat exchanger is less likely to come into contact with the hydraulic unit, thus minimizing the thermal impact on the hydraulic unit. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0008] [Figure 1] This is a left side view of the saddle-type vehicle in this embodiment. [Figure 2] This is a left side view of the engine area in this embodiment. [Figure 3] This is a front view of the engine area in this embodiment. [Figure 4] This is a top view of the engine area in this embodiment. [Figure 5] This is a modified front view of the engine area. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0009] In one embodiment of the present invention, a saddle-type vehicle has a hydraulic unit and a heat exchanger supported by the vehicle frame. The hydraulic unit adjusts the brake fluid pressure in response to the operating force, and the heat exchanger dissipates heat from the coolant or engine oil to the outside. The hydraulic unit is positioned above the heat exchanger, and in a top view, at least a portion of the hydraulic unit overlaps the heat exchanger. By having the hydraulic unit overlap the heat exchanger, the hydraulic unit is moved inward in the vehicle width direction, thus suppressing an increase in the vehicle width dimension. Furthermore, because the hydraulic unit is positioned above the heat exchanger, the hot air that has passed through the heat exchanger is less likely to hit the hydraulic unit, thus minimizing the thermal impact on the hydraulic unit. [Examples]

[0010] The saddle-type vehicle of this embodiment will be described below with reference to the attached drawings. Figure 1 is a left 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 Figure 1, the saddle-type vehicle 1 is constructed by mounting various components such as the engine 40 and electrical systems on a vehicle frame 10. A pair of main frames 12 extend diagonally downward and rearward from the head pipe 11 of the vehicle frame 10, and a pair of body frames 13 extend downward from the rear of the pair of main frames 12. In addition, a down frame 14 extends downward from the head pipe 11, and a rearward-bent under loop 15 is connected to the lower part of the down frame 14. The rear end of the under loop 15 is connected to the lower part of the pair of body frames 13, so that the vehicle frame 10 is formed in a cradle shape.

[0012] A front fork 21 is supported by a steering shaft (not shown) on the head pipe 11 so as to be steerable. A handlebar 22 is provided on the upper part of the front fork 21, and a front wheel 23 is rotatably supported on the lower part of the front fork 21. A fuel tank 24 is placed over the top of a pair of main frames 12, and the main frames 12 and fuel tank 24 are covered from the sides by a front side cover 31. A seat 32 is installed behind the fuel tank 24, and a seat frame (not shown) that supports the seat 32 from below is covered from the sides by a rear side cover 33.

[0013] A swingarm 34 is pivotably supported on the body frame 13. The swingarm 34 extends rearward from the body frame 13, and a rear wheel 35 is rotatably supported at the rear end of the swingarm 34. The engine 40 is a four-stroke single-cylinder engine and is suspended inside the vehicle frame 10 via several suspension brackets 17, 19. A cylinder assembly, consisting of a cylinder 42, a cylinder head 43, and a cylinder head cover 44, is mounted on the upper surface of the crankcase 41 of the engine 40. An air cleaner (not shown) is installed behind the cylinder head 43.

[0014] An exhaust pipe 51 extends downward from the front left side of the cylinder head 43, passing to the right side of the cylinder 42 and connecting to the muffler 52 at the rear of the vehicle. A primary catalytic converter case 53 is provided on the exhaust pipe 51 in front of the engine 40, and a secondary catalytic converter case 54 is provided on the exhaust pipe 51 at the rear of the engine 40. Left and right radiators 61 and 65 (only the left radiator 65 is shown in Figure 1) are located in front of the cylinder head 43, and the left and right radiators 61 and 65 are attached to the down frame 14. An ABS device 71, which functions as a hydraulic unit, is installed inside the front side cover 31.

[0015] In the vehicle frame 10 described above, a pair of main frames 12 extend to the left and right from the head pipe 11 towards the rear, and the pair of main frames 12 are covered from the outside in the vehicle width direction by a pair of front side covers 31. When the ABS device 71 is installed between the main frames 12 and the front side covers 31, the front side covers 31 bulge outward in the vehicle width direction, making the vehicle larger. In addition, the hot air from the left and right radiators 61 and 65 may adversely affect the ABS device 71. Therefore, in this embodiment, the ABS device 71 is installed so that it overlaps the left radiator 65 from above, suppressing the bulge of the front side covers 31 and avoiding the hot air.

[0016] The layout of the ABS system will be described with reference to Figures 2-4. Figure 2 is a left side view of the engine area in this embodiment. Figure 3 is a front view of the engine area in this embodiment. Figure 4 is a top view of the engine area in this embodiment. Note that Figures 2 to 4 show the front side cover removed. In Figure 4, the fuel tank is indicated by a dashed line.

[0017] As shown in Figure 2, at the top of the vehicle frame 10, a pair of main frames 12 extend diagonally downward and rearward from the upper rear side of the head pipe 11, and a single down frame 14 extends downward from the lower rear side of the head pipe 11. The middle sections of the pair of main frames 12 and the middle section of the down frame 14 are connected via a pair of reinforcing bridges 16. The pair of main frames 12 support a fuel tank 24, and the lower half of the fuel tank 24 is recessed inside the pair of main frames 12. The space inside the pair of main frames 12 is used as the installation space for the fuel tank 24, ensuring sufficient tank capacity for the fuel tank 24.

[0018] Below the bridge 16, the engine 40 is suspended from the vehicle body frame 10 by suspension brackets 17 and 19. A cylinder 42 is installed on the upper surface of the crankcase 41 of the engine 40, a cylinder head 43 is installed on the upper surface of the cylinder 42, and a cylinder head cover 44 is installed on the upper surface of the cylinder head 43. A magnet cover 45 and a sprocket cover 46 are installed on the left side surface of the crankcase 41. An exhaust pipe 51 extends obliquely downward from the front of the cylinder head 43 to the left. After the exhaust pipe 51 crosses in front of the down frame 14, the exhaust pipe 51 extends rearward through the right side of the cylinder 42.

[0019] As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, in front of the cylinder head cover 44, a right radiator 61 and a left radiator 65 with different upper surface heights are supported on both the left and right sides of the down frame 14. The height dimension of the left radiator 65 is formed smaller than the height dimension of the right radiator 61, and the upper surface of the left radiator 65 is lower than the upper surface of the right radiator 61. The lower surface of the left radiator 65 is located below the cylinder head cover 44, but the upper surface of the left radiator 65 is located above the cylinder head cover 44. Also, a radiator fan 78 is attached to the rear surface of the left radiator 65.

[0020] In the right radiator 61, a right inlet tank 63 is installed below the right radiator core 62, and a right outlet tank 64 is installed above the right radiator core 62. In the left radiator 65, a left inlet tank 67 is installed above the left radiator core 66, and a left outlet tank 68 is installed below the left radiator core 66. An inlet hose (not shown) extends from the engine 40 to the right inlet tank 63, the right outlet tank 64 and the left inlet tank 67 are connected by an inter-radiator hose 76, and an outlet hose 77 extends from the left outlet tank 68 to a water pump (not shown).

[0021] In the right radiator 61, the cooling water flows upward from the right inlet tank 63 to the right outlet tank 64, and the heat of the cooling water is dissipated to the outside while the cooling water passes through the right radiator core 62. The cooling water is sent from the right outlet tank 64 to the left inlet tank 67 through the radiator hose 76. In the left radiator 65, the cooling water flows downward from the left inlet tank 67 to the left outlet tank 68, and the heat of the cooling water is dissipated to the outside while the cooling water passes through the left radiator core 66. The cooling water dissipates heat in two stages in the right radiator 61 and the left radiator 65, improving the cooling efficiency.

[0022] An ABS device 71 is supported on the left side of the down frame 14 above the left radiator 65. The ABS device 71 adjusts the hydraulic pressure of the brake in response to an operating force so as to avoid locking of the front wheels 23 (see FIG. 1) during hard braking. The ABS device 71 is composed of an ABS controller 72 and an actuator 73. The ABS controller 72 is positioned inside the vehicle width direction, and the actuator 73 is positioned outside the vehicle width direction. Signals are input to the ABS controller 72 from various sensors of each part of the vehicle body, and the hydraulic pressure of the brake is adjusted by the actuator 73 according to an instruction from the ABS controller 72.

[0023] The ABS device 71 is located above the left radiator 65 which has a lower upper surface among the right radiator 61 and the left radiator 65. The heights of the lower surfaces of the right radiator 61 and the left radiator 65 are substantially aligned, and the vertical dimension of the left radiator 65 is formed smaller than that of the right radiator 61 by the height dimension of the ABS device 71. By lowering the upper surface of the left radiator 65 below the upper surface of the right radiator 61, an installation space for the ABS device 71 is secured above the left radiator 65. The ABS device 71 is installed without changing the design of the right radiator 61, reducing the change in vehicle characteristics and making the vehicle body designed more compactly.

[0024] The relay component 74 is located on the outside in the vehicle width direction of the ABS unit 71, and the ABS unit 71 and the relay component 74 are supported by the down frame 14 and bridge 16 via a bracket 75. By installing the relay component 74 next to the ABS unit 71, the space above the left radiator 65 is utilized more effectively. In addition, the bracket 75 is shared by the ABS unit 71 and the relay component 74, which reduces the number of parts and makes the vehicle lighter. By positioning the ABS unit 71 and the relay component 74 above the left radiator 65, the hot air that has passed through the left radiator 65 is less likely to hit the ABS unit 71 and the relay component 74, minimizing the effects of heat.

[0025] As shown in Figures 2 and 4, in a top view, at least a portion of the ABS unit 71 overlaps the left radiator 65. More specifically, at least a portion (front) of the ABS unit 71 is located in front of the rear surface of the left radiator core 66 (see Figure 3), and the rear end of the ABS unit 71 is located in front of the rear end of the radiator fan 78. In a top view, at least a portion of the ABS unit 71 overlaps the left main frame 12. The overlap of the ABS unit 71 with the left radiator 65 and the main frame 12 causes the ABS unit 71 to extend inward in the vehicle width direction, suppressing the outward bulge of the front side cover 31 (see Figure 1) in the vehicle width direction.

[0026] A pair of main frames 12 extend rearward from the head pipe 11, spreading out to the left and right. Below the pair of main frames 12, at least a portion of the ABS unit 71 and the left radiator 65 are located inward in the vehicle width direction from position P, which is the widest point of the pair of main frames 12. Below the left radiator 65, an exhaust pipe 51 extends outward and downward in the vehicle width direction from the engine 40. By positioning the ABS unit 71 inward in the vehicle width direction, the ABS unit 71 is separated from the exhaust pipe 51, reducing the heat effect from the exhaust pipe 51 on the ABS unit 71. In addition, by positioning the ABS unit 71 closer to the vehicle's roll axis, the impact on driving stability is minimized.

[0027] In a side view, the lower surface of the front corner 25 of the fuel tank 24 is formed along a pair of main frames 12, and the front corner 25 of the fuel tank 24 is supported from below by the pair of main frames 12. In a top view, the front corner 25 of the fuel tank 24 overlaps with at least a part of the ABS device 71 from above, and the ABS device 71 is located inward in the vehicle width direction from the front corner 25 of the fuel tank 24. In a top view, the relay component 74 is located outward in the vehicle width direction from position P of the main frame 12 and the front corner 25 of the fuel tank 24, but the relay component 74 is positioned inward in the vehicle width direction from the left side of the left radiator 65, thereby suppressing an increase in the vehicle width dimension.

[0028] As described above, in the saddle-type vehicle 1 of this embodiment, the ABS device 71 is positioned on top of the left radiator 65, which causes the ABS device 71 to be moved inward in the vehicle width direction, thus suppressing an increase in the vehicle width dimension. By positioning the ABS device 71 above the left radiator 65, the hot air that has passed through the left radiator 65 is less likely to hit the ABS device 71, thus minimizing the thermal impact on the ABS device 71.

[0029] In this embodiment, the height of the left radiator is smaller than that of the right radiator, and the widths of the right and left radiators are approximately the same, but the system is not limited to this configuration. As shown in Figure 5, the height of the left radiator 82 may be smaller than that of the right radiator 81, and the width of the left radiator 82 may be larger than that of the right radiator 81. By reducing the height of the left radiator 82 and increasing its width, the cooling performance of the left radiator 82 can be suppressed while securing space above the left radiator 82 for the ABS device 83.

[0030] Furthermore, although a radiator is exemplified as a heat exchanger in this embodiment, an oil cooler may also be used as the heat exchanger. An oil cooler dissipates the heat from the engine oil to the outside.

[0031] Furthermore, although a pair of radiators are exemplified as the heat exchanger in this embodiment, the heat exchanger may consist of a single radiator or an oil cooler.

[0032] Furthermore, although an ABS device is exemplified as the hydraulic unit in this embodiment, any hydraulic unit that can adjust the brake fluid pressure in response to operating force is acceptable. For example, the hydraulic unit may be a master cylinder.

[0033] Furthermore, although the ABS system is supported by the down frame and bridge in this embodiment, the ABS system only needs to be supported by the vehicle frame. For example, the ABS system may be supported by the main frame.

[0034] Furthermore, in this embodiment, the relay component is installed on the outside in the vehicle width direction of the ABS device, but other components besides the relay component may be installed on the outside in the vehicle width direction of the ABS device, or no components may be installed on the outside in the vehicle width direction of the ABS device.

[0035] Furthermore, the hydraulic unit installation structure of this embodiment is not limited to the off-road type saddle-type vehicle described above, but may also be adopted in other types of saddle-type vehicles. Note that the term "saddle-type vehicle" is not limited to all vehicles in which the driver sits straddling a seat, but also includes scooter-type vehicles in which the driver does not straddle a seat.

[0036] As described above, the saddle-type vehicle of the first embodiment includes a hydraulic unit (ABS device 71) that adjusts the brake fluid pressure in response to the operating force, a heat exchanger (left radiator 65) that dissipates heat from the coolant or engine oil to the outside, and a vehicle frame (10) that supports the hydraulic unit and the heat exchanger. The hydraulic unit is positioned above the heat exchanger, and in a top view, at least a part of the hydraulic unit overlaps the heat exchanger. With this configuration, the hydraulic unit overlapping the heat exchanger is positioned inward in the vehicle width direction, thereby suppressing an increase in the vehicle width dimension. In addition, because the hydraulic unit is positioned above the heat exchanger, the hot air that has passed through the heat exchanger is less likely to hit the hydraulic unit, thus minimizing the thermal impact on the hydraulic unit.

[0037] In the second embodiment, the heat exchanger is a pair of heat exchangers (right radiator 61, left radiator 65) with different upper surface heights, and the hydraulic unit is located above the heat exchanger with the lower upper surface (left radiator 65). With this configuration, the upper surface of one heat exchanger is lower than the upper surface of the other heat exchanger, thereby securing space for the hydraulic unit above the one heat exchanger. The hydraulic unit can be installed without redesigning the other heat exchanger, reducing changes in vehicle characteristics and allowing for a more compact vehicle body design.

[0038] In the third embodiment, as in the first and second embodiments, the vehicle frame extends rearward from the head pipe (11) with a pair of main frames (12) spreading out to the left and right, and at least a portion of the hydraulic unit and heat exchanger are located below the pair of main frames, inward in the vehicle width direction from the position (P) where the pair of main frames have their maximum width. With this configuration, by positioning the hydraulic unit inward in the vehicle width direction, the hydraulic unit is separated from the exhaust system, and the influence of heat from the exhaust system on the hydraulic unit is suppressed. In addition, by positioning the hydraulic unit closer to the roll axis of the vehicle body, the impact on driving stability is minimized. Furthermore, space for other components is secured on the outside of the hydraulic unit in the vehicle width direction.

[0039] In the fourth embodiment, as in the third embodiment, other components (relay components 74) are located on the outside of the hydraulic unit in the vehicle width direction, and the hydraulic unit and other components are supported by the vehicle frame via a bracket (75). With this configuration, other components are installed next to the hydraulic unit, and the space above the heat exchanger is utilized more effectively. In addition, the number of parts is reduced by sharing the bracket between the hydraulic unit and other components, resulting in a lighter vehicle body.

[0040] The fifth aspect is such that, in the third or fourth aspect, at least a portion of the hydraulic unit overlaps one of the main frames when viewed from above. With this configuration, the hydraulic unit is recessed inward in the vehicle width direction, and the degree to which the front side cover on the outside of the main frame bulges outward in the vehicle width direction is suppressed.

[0041] The sixth aspect is a configuration of the second aspect in which the vehicle frame has a down frame (14) extending downward from the head pipe, a pair of heat exchangers supported on both the left and right sides of the down frame, and a hydraulic unit supported on the down frame above one of the heat exchangers. With this configuration, one of the heat exchangers is supported at a lower position on the down frame, which provides space above the heat exchanger for the hydraulic unit, and the hydraulic unit is supported on the down frame in this space.

[0042] In the seventh embodiment, the height dimension of one heat exchanger (left radiator 82) is smaller than the height dimension of the other heat exchanger (right radiator 81), and the width dimension of one heat exchanger is larger than the width dimension of the other heat exchanger. With this configuration, by reducing the height dimension of one heat exchanger and increasing the width dimension of the other heat exchanger, a decrease in the cooling performance of one heat exchanger is suppressed while securing space for the installation of a hydraulic unit above the one heat exchanger.

[0043] Although this embodiment has been described, other embodiments may include combinations of the above embodiment and its modifications, either entirely or partially.

[0044] Furthermore, the technology of the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above, and may be modified, substituted, or transformed in various ways without departing from the spirit of the technical idea. Moreover, if the technical idea can be realized in a different way by advances in the technology or by other derived technologies, it may be implemented by that method. Accordingly, the claims cover all embodiments that may fall within the scope of the technical idea. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0045] 1: Saddle-type vehicle 10: Vehicle frame 11: Headpipe 12: Mainframe 14: Down frame (vehicle frame) 16: Bridge (vehicle frame) 61, 81: Right radiator (the other heat exchanger) 65, 82: Left radiator (one of the heat exchangers) 71, 83: ABS device 74: Relay components (other components) 75: Bracket

Claims

1. A hydraulic unit that adjusts the brake fluid pressure in response to the operating force, A heat exchanger that dissipates heat from the coolant or engine oil to the outside, The vehicle comprises a body frame that supports the hydraulic unit and the heat exchanger, A saddle-type vehicle characterized in that the hydraulic unit is located above the heat exchanger, and at least a portion of the hydraulic unit overlaps the heat exchanger when viewed from above.

2. The heat exchanger is a pair of heat exchangers with different upper surface heights. The saddle-type vehicle according to claim 1, characterized in that the hydraulic unit is located above one of the pair of heat exchangers, the one with the lower upper surface.

3. The aforementioned vehicle frame consists of a pair of main frames extending from the head pipe, spreading out to the left and right and extending backward. The saddle-type vehicle according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that at least a portion of the hydraulic unit and the heat exchanger are located below the pair of main frames and inward in the vehicle width direction from the position where the pair of main frames have their maximum width.

4. The saddle-type vehicle according to claim 3, characterized in that other components are located on the outside in the vehicle width direction of the hydraulic unit, and the hydraulic unit and the other components are supported by the vehicle frame via a bracket.

5. The saddle-type vehicle according to claim 3, characterized in that, in a top view, at least a portion of the hydraulic unit overlaps with one of the main frames.

6. The aforementioned vehicle frame has a down frame extending downward from the head pipe. The pair of heat exchangers are supported on both the left and right sides of the down frame. The saddle-type vehicle according to claim 2, characterized in that the hydraulic unit is supported on the down frame above one of the heat exchangers.

7. The saddle-type vehicle according to claim 2, characterized in that the height dimension of one heat exchanger is smaller than the height dimension of the other heat exchanger, and the width dimension of one heat exchanger is larger than the width dimension of the other heat exchanger.

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