Saddle-type vehicle

Abstract

To provide a saddle-riding type vehicle which enables the capacity of an air cleaner box to increase without changing a shape of a vehicle body frame.SOLUTION: In a saddle-riding type vehicle (1) having an air cleaner box (30) for introducing outside air into an intake passage of a power unit (P), a frame member (20) forming a vehicle body frame (F) penetrates through the air cleaner box (30). An intake port (31) for introducing outside air is formed on an outer side surface in a vehicle width direction of the air cleaner box (30). The frame member (20) is disposed along an edge of the intake port (31) in a vehicle body side view. The frame member (20) is formed by a square pipe material. An air filter (32) is stored in the air cleaner box (30). Through holes (40, 41) into which the frame member (20) passes communicate with a space (39) at the upstream side relative to the air filter (32) in the intake passage.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 4

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a saddle-ride type vehicle, and more particularly to a saddle-ride type vehicle having an air cleaner box for introducing outside air into an intake passage of a power unit that is an integral combination of an engine and a transmission. [Background technology]

[0002] 2. Description of the Related Art Saddle-ride type vehicles have been known that have an air cleaner box for introducing outside air into an intake passage of a power unit that is an integral combination of an engine and a transmission.

[0003] Patent Document 1 discloses a motorcycle having a main frame extending rearward and downward from a head pipe, a seat frame extending rearward and upward from the main frame to support a seat, and a rear frame supporting the seat frame from below, with an air cleaner box disposed in the space surrounded by the main frame, seat frame, and rear frame. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Utility Model Application Publication No. 64-13253 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] However, in a configuration in which an air cleaner box is placed in a space surrounded by frame members, as in Patent Document 1, there was a problem that if one wanted to increase the capacity of the air cleaner box, it would be necessary to change the shape of the frame members, which would likely increase the vehicle dimensions.

[0006] SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide a straddle-type vehicle that overcomes the problems of the prior art and that allows the capacity of the air cleaner box to be increased without changing the shape of the body frame. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] In order to achieve the above object, the present invention has a first feature in that, in a saddle-riding type vehicle (1) having an air cleaner box (30) for introducing outside air into an intake path of a power unit (P), a frame member (20) constituting a body frame (F) of the saddle-riding type vehicle (1) penetrates the air cleaner box (30).

[0008] A second feature is that an air intake port (31) for introducing outside air is formed on the outer side of the air cleaner box (30) in the vehicle width direction, and the frame member (20) is arranged along the edge of the air intake port (31) when viewed from the side of the vehicle body.

[0009] The third feature is that the frame members (20) are made of square pipe material.

[0010] A fourth feature is that an air filter (32) is housed in the air cleaner box (30), and the through holes (40, 41) through which the frame member (20) passes are connected to a space (39) upstream of the air filter (32) in the intake passage.

[0011] Furthermore, the frame member (20) is a rear frame that slopes upward toward the rear when viewed from the side of the vehicle body and that turns inward in the vehicle width direction as it goes rearward, and a fifth feature is that the through holes (40, 41) consist of an upper through hole (40) provided in the upper rear part of the air cleaner box (30) and a lower through hole (41) provided in the lower front part of the air cleaner box (30), and the upper through hole (40) is located more inward in the vehicle width direction than the lower through hole (41).

[0012] Furthermore, the air cleaner box (30) has at least a main case (34) and an outer cover (33) attached to the vehicle widthwise outer side of the main case (34), the intake port (31) is formed in the outer cover (33), and the upper through hole (40) and the lower through hole (41) are arranged between the outer cover (33) and the main case (34), which is a sixth feature. [Effects of the Invention]

[0013] According to the first feature, in a saddle-riding type vehicle (1) having an air cleaner box (30) for introducing outside air into an intake path of a power unit (P), a frame member (20) constituting a body frame (F) of the saddle-riding type vehicle (1) penetrates the air cleaner box (30), so it is possible to increase the capacity of the air cleaner box without changing the configuration or shape of the body frame, thereby increasing the degree of freedom in the shape and arrangement of the air cleaner box while preventing the vehicle body from becoming larger.

[0014] According to a second feature, the frame member (20) is a rear frame that slopes upward toward the rear in a side view of the vehicle body and that moves inward in the vehicle width direction as it moves toward the rear, and the through holes (40, 41) consist of an upper through hole (40) provided in the upper rear part of the air cleaner box (30) and a lower through hole (41) provided in the lower front part of the air cleaner box (30), and the upper through hole (40) is located more inward in the vehicle width direction than the lower through hole (41).Therefore, the frame member does not block the air intake port, and the frame member functions as a guide that leads outside air to the air intake port, thereby improving intake efficiency.

[0015] According to the third feature, since the frame member (20) is made of a square pipe material, the flat surface of the frame member can further enhance the guide function of guiding outside air to the air intake port.

[0016] According to the fourth feature, an air filter (32) is housed in the air cleaner box (30), and the through holes (40, 41) through which the frame member (20) passes are connected to a space (39) upstream of the air filter (32) in the intake passage. Therefore, outside air is introduced not only through the intake port but also through the gap between the through hole and the frame member, and thus the outside air convects in the space upstream of the element member, thereby improving intake efficiency.

[0017] According to a fifth feature, the frame member (20) is a rear frame that slopes upward toward the rear in a side view of the vehicle body and that extends inward in the vehicle width direction as it extends rearward, and the through holes (40, 41) are composed of an upper through hole (40) provided in the upper rear part of the air cleaner box (30) and a lower through hole (41) provided in the lower front part of the air cleaner box (30), and the upper through hole (40) is located more inward in the vehicle width direction than the lower through hole (41).This allows for a through hole that matches the shape of the rear frame, and the two through holes are positioned offset in the vertical and transverse directions of the vehicle, thereby further promoting convection of outside air and improving intake efficiency.

[0018] According to the sixth feature, the air cleaner box (30) has at least a main case (34) and an outer cover (33) attached to the vehicle width direction outer side of the main case (34), the intake port (31) is formed in the outer cover (33), and the upper through hole (40) and the lower through hole (41) are arranged between the outer cover (33) and the main case (34). This facilitates the work of assembling the air cleaner box by sandwiching the frame member between the outer cover and the main case. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0019] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a left side view of a motorcycle according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is an enlarged view of a portion of FIG. [Figure 3] 3 is a left side view of the vehicle in the state shown in FIG. 2 with the side cover removed. [Figure 4] FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the mounting structure of the air cleaner box. [Figure 5] FIG. [Figure 6] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the air cleaner box as viewed from above and in the front left. [Figure 7] 10 is a plan view of the air cleaner box as viewed from the axial direction of the upper through-hole. FIG. [Figure 8] 10 is a bottom view of the air cleaner box as viewed from the axial direction of the lower through-hole. FIG. [Figure 9] FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view taken along line IX-IX in FIG. [Figure 10] FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along line XX in FIG. 3. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0020] A preferred embodiment of the present invention will now be described in detail with reference to the drawings. Fig. 1 is a left side view of a motorcycle 1 according to this embodiment. The motorcycle 1 is an off-road straddle-type vehicle in which power from a power unit P, which is an integrated combination of an engine and a transmission, is transmitted to a rear wheel WR via a drive chain 13.

[0021] A head pipe F1, which rotatably supports a steering stem shaft (not shown), is attached to the front end of a pair of left and right main frames F2 that make up the body frame F. A top bridge 4 is fixed to the upper end of the steering stem shaft, and a bottom bridge 5 is fixed to the lower end of the steering stem shaft. A front wheel WF is rotatably supported at the lower ends of a pair of left and right front forks 7 supported by the top bridge 4 and bottom bridge 5. A steering handlebar 3 is attached to the top of the top bridge 4, and a front fender 6 is attached to the front forks 7, positioned above the front wheel WF.

[0022] A pair of left and right pivot frames F3 are connected to the lower rear end of the main frame F2. The pivot frames F3 support a pivot 10 that pivotally supports a swing arm 12 so that it can swing up and down. A rear wheel WR is pivotally supported at the rear end of the swing arm 12 so that it can rotate freely. The swing arm 12 is suspended from the main frame F2 by a rear cushion 11 via a link mechanism.

[0023] A power unit P is suspended below the main frame F2 and in front of the pivot 10. A cylinder block 8 that slidably houses pistons and a cylinder head 18 that houses a valve mechanism are attached to the top of a crankcase 9 that houses the crankshaft of the power unit P. Combustion gas from the power unit P is discharged rearward from a muffler 14 at the rear of the vehicle body.

[0024] A fuel tank 2 is disposed on top of the main frame F2, and a seat 17 is disposed behind the fuel tank 2. A pair of left and right side covers 15 are disposed below the seat 17, and a rear fender 19 is disposed behind the side covers 15. The left side cover 15 in the vehicle width direction has an opening 16 for introducing outside air into an air cleaner box (not shown).

[0025] Fig. 2 is an enlarged view of a portion of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a left side view with the side cover 15 removed from the state of Fig. 2. The body frame F has a pair of left and right seat frames 21 (shown in dark gray in the figure) that extend rearward and upward from the main frame F2 and support the seat 17, and a pair of left and right rear frames 20 (shown in dark gray in the figure) that support the seat frames 21 from below. The side cover 15 on the left side in the vehicle width direction is provided with a substantially triangular opening 16 for introducing outside air into the air cleaner box 30. The outside air introduced into the air cleaner box 30 passes through an air filter 32 (shown in dotted hatching in the figure) before being supplied to the intake path of the power unit P.

[0026] An outer cover 33 (shown in light gray in the figure) is attached to the left side of the air cleaner box 30, which houses the air filter 32. The outer cover 33 is provided with a substantially triangular air intake port 31 that introduces outside air. This embodiment is characterized in that the rear frame 20 on the left side in the vehicle width direction penetrates the air cleaner box 30. The air intake port 31 communicates with a space 39 upstream of the air filter 32 in the intake passage.

[0027] FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing the mounting structure of the air cleaner box 30. This figure shows the state as seen from the front left of the vehicle body. As described above, the rear frame 20 on the left side in the vehicle width direction penetrates the air cleaner box 30, so that the air cleaner box 30 does not remain confined to the space surrounded by the main frame F2, the seat frame 21, and the rear frame 20, but has a shape that expands rearward and downward of the rear frame 20 and outward in the vehicle width direction. In other words, because the rear frame 20 penetrates the air cleaner box 30, the capacity of the air cleaner box 30 can be increased without changing the configuration of the vehicle frame F, and this makes it possible to increase the degree of freedom in the shape and placement of the air cleaner box 30 while preventing the vehicle body from becoming larger.

[0028] Fig. 5 is a left side view of the air cleaner box 30. Fig. 6 is a perspective view of the air cleaner box 30 seen from above and to the left front, Fig. 7 is a plan view of the air cleaner box 30 seen from the axial direction of the upper through-hole 40, and Fig. 8 is a bottom view of the air cleaner box 30 seen from the axial direction of the lower through-hole 41. The air cleaner box 30 is made of synthetic resin or the like and comprises a main case 34 that houses the air filter 32, an outer cover 33 attached to the left side of the main case 34, a lower case 35 attached to the bottom of the main case 34, and a rear case 38 attached to the rear of the main case 34.

[0029] A second intake port 36 and a third intake port 37 are formed in the top surface of the main case 34. An exhaust port 35a is formed in the bottom surface of the lower case 35 for supplying outside air that has passed through the air filter 32 to the intake path of the power unit P. An upper through-hole 40 (shown in hatched area in the figure) through which the rear frame 20 passes is formed in the top surface of the air cleaner box 30, and a lower through-hole 41 (shown in hatched area in the figure) through which the rear frame 20 passes is formed in the bottom surface of the air cleaner box 30. The second intake port 36 and the third intake port 37 do not necessarily have to be provided.

[0030] In this embodiment, the rear frame 20 on the left side in the vehicle width direction, which penetrates the air cleaner box 30, is disposed along the lower edge of the intake port 31, which is inclined upward to the rear. This prevents the rear frame 20 from blocking the intake port 31, and the rear frame 20 functions as a guide that leads outside air to the intake port 31, thereby improving intake efficiency. Furthermore, in this embodiment, the rear frame 20 is made of square pipe material, so the flat surface of the rear frame 20 can further improve the guide function that leads outside air to the intake port 31.

[0031] The pair of left and right rear frames 20 are shaped to slope upward toward the rear in a side view of the vehicle body and to be inward in the vehicle width direction as they extend rearward. As a result, the rear frame 20 on the left side in the vehicle width direction passes through a lower through-hole 41 formed in the lower part of the air cleaner box 30 and an upper through-hole 40 formed in the upper part of the air cleaner box 30 and positioned more inward in the vehicle width direction than the lower through-hole 41. This makes it possible to obtain the upper through-hole 40 and the lower through-hole 41 that match the shape of the rear frame 20.

[0032] The upper through-hole 40 and the lower through-hole 41 are each disposed between the outer cover 33 and the main case 34. This facilitates the formation of the upper through-hole 40 and the lower through-hole 41, and also facilitates the work of assembling the air cleaner box 30 by sandwiching the rear frame 20 between the outer cover 33 and the main case 34.

[0033] Fig. 9 is a cross-sectional view taken along line IX-IX in Fig. 3. Fig. 10 is a cross-sectional view taken along line XX in Fig. 3. As described above, the pair of left and right rear frames 20 are shaped to slope upward toward the rear in a side view of the vehicle body and to extend inward in the vehicle width direction as they extend rearward. The upper through-hole 40 and the lower through-hole 41 through which the rear frames 20 pass communicate with a space 39 upstream of the air filter 32 in the intake passage. As a result, outside air is introduced into the space 39 not only through the intake port 31 but also through gaps between the through-holes 40, 41 and the rear frames 20, causing convection of the outside air in the space upstream of the air filter 32, thereby improving intake efficiency.

[0034] Furthermore, as described above, the upper through-hole 40 is positioned more inward in the vehicle width direction than the lower through-hole 41, so that the upper through-hole 40 and the lower through-hole 41 are obtained to match the shape of the rear frame 20, and the upper through-hole 40 and the lower through-hole 41 are positioned at offset positions in the vertical and horizontal directions, which further promotes convection of outside air and improves intake efficiency.

[0035] The shape of the motorcycle, the configuration of the body frame, the shape and structure of the rear frame, the shape and structure of the air cleaner box, the shape and arrangement of the air intake port, the shape and structure of the air filter, the shape and arrangement of the upper and lower through-holes, and the type and shape of the frame members that pass through the air cleaner box are not limited to those described in the above embodiment and can be modified in various ways. For example, the air cleaner box may be disposed closer to the right side in the vehicle width direction. The air cleaner box structure according to the present invention can be applied to various vehicles that have an air cleaner box. [Explanation of symbols]

[0036] 1...motorcycle (saddle-ride type vehicle), 20...rear frame (frame member), 30...air cleaner box, 31...air intake port, 32...air filter, 33...outer cover, 34...main case, 39...space upstream of air filter, 40...upper through-hole (through-hole), 41...lower through-hole (through-hole), P...power unit, F...body frame

Claims

1. A saddle-type vehicle (1) having an air cleaner box (30) for introducing outside air into an intake path of a power unit (P), A frame member (20) constituting a body frame (F) of the saddle riding type vehicle (1) penetrates the air cleaner box (30), An intake port (31) for introducing outside air is formed on a side surface of the air cleaner box (30) on the outer side in the vehicle width direction, A saddle-type vehicle, characterized in that the frame member (20) is disposed along an edge of the air intake port (31) when viewed from the side of the vehicle body.

2. 2. The saddle-type vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the frame member (20) is made of a square pipe material.

3. An air filter (32) is housed in the air cleaner box (30), 3. The saddle-type vehicle according to claim 1, wherein a through hole (40, 41) through which the frame member (20) passes is in communication with a space (39) upstream of the air filter (32) in the intake passage.

4. The frame member (20) is a rear frame that is inclined upward toward the rear in a side view of the vehicle body and is inward in the vehicle width direction as it extends toward the rear, The through holes (40, 41) are composed of an upper through hole (40) provided in the rear upper part of the air cleaner box (30) and a lower through hole (41) provided in the front lower part of the air cleaner box (30), 4. The straddle-type vehicle according to claim 3, wherein the upper through-hole (40) is located on the inner side of the lower through-hole (41) in the vehicle width direction.

5. The air cleaner box (30) has at least a main case (34) and an outer cover (33) attached to the outer side of the main case (34) in the vehicle width direction, The air intake (31) is formed in the outer cover (33), 5. The saddle-type vehicle according to claim 4, wherein the upper through-hole (40) and the lower through-hole (41) are disposed between the outer cover (33) and the main case (34).

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