Exterior component structure

Abstract

To provide an exterior component structure capable of suppressing the disturbance of running wind around a middle cowl while suppressing the reduction of a design characteristic.SOLUTION: A front unit 60 according to an aspect of the present invention includes: a middle cowl 72 placed outwardly relative to a vehicular body 2 in the vehicle widthwise direction; and a duct wing 62 that includes an inclined portion 93a which extends outwardly in the vehicular widthwise direction from the middle cowl 72, and which extends upwardly toward the back side. At a portion in the middle cowl 72 located below the inclined portion 93a, formed is a communication portion 100 that causes the interior of the middle cowl 72 and the exterior thereof to be in communication with each other. The inclined portion 93a at least partially covers the communication portion 100 from the front side of the communication portion 100.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 3

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to an exterior component structure.

Background Art

[0002] In saddle-type vehicles such as motorcycles, a cowl unit that surrounds the vehicle body from the front to the side is provided. As this type of cowl unit, a middle cowl that covers the side of the vehicle body is known to include an inner middle cowl and an outer middle cowl disposed outside the inner middle cowl in the vehicle width direction (see, for example, Patent Document 1 below). An air passage is formed between the inner middle cowl and the outer middle cowl. According to this configuration, the inside of the air passage and the inside of the inner middle cowl communicate with each other through an opening formed in the inner middle cowl. Thereby, in the cowl unit, the running air that has passed through the radiator is easily discharged to the outside of the vehicle through the air passage.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] By the way, recently, it has been considered to provide a duct wing that protrudes outward in the vehicle width direction from the middle cowl and is inclined downward to the front. In this case, the running air that has entered the lower space of the duct wing from the front of the duct wing is discharged to the rear of the duct wing through the lower space of the duct wing. At this time, the pressure in the lower space of the duct wing becomes lower than the pressure in the upper space of the duct wing. Therefore, due to the negative pressure generated in the lower space of the duct wing, turbulence is likely to occur and it is difficult to improve the operability.

[0005] The present invention provides an exterior component structure that can suppress the disturbance of the traveling wind around the middle cowl while suppressing a decrease in design quality.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0006] In order to solve the above problems, the present invention adopts the following aspects. <1>An exterior component structure according to an aspect of the present invention includes a first exterior component (72) that is disposed outside the vehicle body (2) in the vehicle width direction and covers the vehicle body from the side, and a first exterior component (72) that extends outward in the vehicle width direction and has an inclined portion (93a) that extends upward as it goes toward the first side in the vehicle longitudinal direction, and forms a space (S) that penetrates in the vehicle longitudinal direction between the first exterior component (72) and the second exterior component (62). Among the first exterior components (72), a communication portion (100) that communicates the inside and outside of the first exterior component (72) is formed in a portion located on the first side in the vertical direction with respect to the inclined portion (93a), and the inclined portion (93a) covers at least a part of the communication portion (100) from the front of the communication portion (100).

[0007] According to this aspect, the outside air inside the first exterior component flows out through the communication portion into the space on the first side in the vertical direction with respect to the inclined portion. Therefore, the pressure difference between the space on the first side and the space on the second side in the vertical direction with respect to the inclined portion can be reduced. Thereby, the disturbance of the traveling wind around the first exterior component can be suppressed. As a result, the operability can be improved. In particular, in this aspect, since the inclined portion covers at least a part of the communication portion from the front of the communication portion, the communication portion is difficult to be visually recognized when viewed from the front of the vehicle. Therefore, with respect to the vehicle appearance, a decrease in design quality due to the formation of the communication portion can be suppressed.

[0008] <2>In the exterior component structure according to the aspect <1> above, it is preferable that the communication portion (100) includes a plurality of communication holes (101), and in a front view of the vehicle, the inclined portion (93a) covers the whole of at least one of the plurality of communication holes (101). According to this aspect, by forming the communication portion with a plurality of communication holes, while ensuring the opening area of the communication portion, it is possible to suppress a decrease in the strength of the first exterior component and the like associated with forming the communication portion. Moreover, by covering at least one communication hole from the front with an inclined portion, it is possible to suppress a decrease in the design quality associated with forming the communication hole.

[0009] <3>In the exterior component structure according to the aspect of <1> or <2> above, a front exterior component (71) is provided which is arranged in front of the vehicle body (2) and covers the vehicle body (2) from the front. In a portion of the front exterior component (71) that is closer to the first exterior component (72) with respect to the center in the vehicle width direction and is located within the height range of the communication portion (100) in the vertical direction, it is preferable that an inlet (83a) for communicating the inside and outside of the front exterior component (71) is formed. According to this aspect, it becomes possible to effectively take in the traveling wind into the exterior component structure. Therefore, the traveling wind can be effectively supplied to the space on the first side in the vertical direction with respect to the inclined portion through the communication portion.

[0010] <4>In the exterior component structure according to the aspect of <3> above, it is preferable that a guide surface (83a1) extending outward in the vehicle width direction as it goes rearward is formed in a portion of the inner peripheral surface of the inlet (83a) that is located on the inner side in the vehicle width direction. According to this aspect, in the process of the traveling wind flowing through the inlet, it flows along the guide surface and is guided outward in the vehicle width direction. Thereby, it is easy to guide the traveling wind that has flowed into the exterior component structure to the communication portion. Therefore, the traveling wind can be effectively supplied to the space on the first side in the vertical direction with respect to the inclined portion through the communication portion.

[0011] <5>In the exterior component structure according to any one of the aspects from (1) to (4) above, it is preferable that the communication portion (100) extends along the extending direction of the inclined portion (93a). According to this aspect, it is easy to uniformly set the distance between the communication part and the inclined part over the entire vehicle longitudinal direction. Therefore, it is easy to supply the running wind through the communication part over the entire vehicle longitudinal direction in the space on the first side in the vertical direction with respect to the inclined part.

[0012] <6>In the exterior component structure according to the aspect of <5>, when viewed from the opening direction of the communication part (100), it is preferable that the dimension of the communication part (100) in the direction intersecting the extending direction increases as it goes backward. According to this aspect, it is possible to reduce the pressure loss when passing through the communication part as it goes backward. Thereby, it is easy to supply the running wind through the communication part over the entire vehicle longitudinal direction in the space on the first side in the vertical direction with respect to the inclined part.

[0013] <7>In the exterior component structure according to any one of the aspects of <1> to <6>, it is preferable that the inclined part (93a) extends toward the first side in the vertical direction as it goes toward the outside in the vehicle width direction, and at least a part of the communication part (100) is covered from the outside in the vehicle width direction with respect to the communication part. According to this aspect, in a side view of the vehicle, it is difficult to visually recognize the communication part. Therefore, it is possible to suppress a decrease in design quality due to the formation of the communication part in terms of the vehicle appearance.

Effects of the Invention

[0014] According to the above aspect, it is possible to suppress a decrease in design quality and suppress the disturbance of the running wind around the middle cowl.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0015]

Figure 1

Figure 2

Figure 3

Figure 4

Figure 5

Figure 6

Figure 7

Figure 8

Figure 9

Figure 10

Figure 11

Mode for Carrying Out the Invention

[0016] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. In the embodiments and modifications described below, corresponding components may be denoted by the same reference numerals and the description thereof may be omitted. In the following description, a motorcycle (an example of a saddle-riding type vehicle) will be described as an example of a vehicle equipped with an exterior component structure. The front, rear, left, and right directions in the following description are the same as those in the motorcycle 1 unless otherwise specified. In this case, the arrow FR in the figure indicates the front of the motorcycle 1, the arrow UP in the figure indicates the upper side of the motorcycle 1, the arrow LH in the figure indicates the left side of the motorcycle 1, and the center line CL indicates the center position in the vehicle width direction of the motorcycle 1.

[0017] In the following description, expressions indicating relative or absolute arrangements such as "parallel", "orthogonal", "center", "coaxial", etc. shall represent not only such strict arrangements but also states in which they are relatively displaced with tolerances and angles or distances that provide the same function. Further, in the present embodiment, "opposite" includes not only cases where the orthogonal directions (normal directions) of two surfaces coincide with each other but also cases where the orthogonal directions intersect each other.

[0018] [Motorcycle 1] FIG. 1 is a side view of a motorcycle 1 according to an embodiment. As shown in FIG. 1, the motorcycle 1 according to the embodiment is, for example, a racer type. The motorcycle 1 includes a vehicle body 2 and a vehicle body cover 3.

[0019] [Vehicle body 2] The vehicle body 2 includes a front wheel 10, a rear wheel 11, a front fork 12 that supports the front wheel 10, a swing arm 13 that supports the rear wheel 11, a vehicle body frame 14 that supports the front fork 12 and the swing arm 13, and an engine 15 (internal combustion engine, prime mover) supported by the vehicle body frame 14.

[0020] The front forks 12 are provided on both sides in the vehicle width direction (a pair on the left and right) with respect to the front wheel 10. Each front fork 12 supports the front wheel 10 at its lower end. A front fender 20 is provided at a portion of each front fork 12 that is located above the front wheel 10.

[0021] The vehicle body frame 14 includes a head pipe 21, a pair of left and right main frames 22, a pair of left and right pivot frames 23, and a seat frame 24. The head pipe 21 is provided at the front end of the vehicle body frame 14 in a state inclined with respect to the vertical direction. The head pipe 21 rotatably supports the steering stem 25. The upper part of each front fork 12 is connected to the steering stem 25. A handlebar 26 of, for example, a bar type is attached to the top bridge of the steering stem 25. Thus, the front fork 12 (front wheel 10) is configured to be steerable via the handlebar 26.

[0022] Each main frame 22 extends bifurcated rearward from the head pipe 21. Specifically, each main frame 22 extends downward as it goes rearward in a side view of the vehicle. A fuel tank 30 is attached to the main frame 22 so as to straddle each main frame 22. Each pivot frame 23 extends downward from the rear end of each main frame 22. The seat frame 24 is connected to the rear ends of the main frames 22. The seat frame 24 extends upward as it goes rearward. A seat 31 is attached to the seat frame 24.

[0023] The swing arm 13 is connected to the pivot frame 23 so as to be swingable in the vertical direction. The swing arm 13 extends downward as it goes rearward from the pivot frame 23. A rear wheel 11 is supported at the rear end of the swing arm 13.

[0024] The engine 15 is mounted on the vehicle body frame 14. Note that the prime mover of the motorcycle 1 is not limited to the engine 15 and may be an electric motor or the like.

[0025] <Vehicle body cover 3> The vehicle body cover 3 constitutes the exterior portion of the vehicle body 2. Specifically, the vehicle body cover 3 includes a rear unit 50 and a front unit (exterior component structure) 60. The rear unit 50 surrounds the vehicle body 2 at the rear part of the vehicle body 2 from both the rear and both sides in the vehicle width direction. Specifically, the rear unit 50 includes a side cover 51 and a rear cowl 52. The side cover 51 covers, from both sides in the vehicle width direction, the portion of the vehicle body frame 14 (seat frame 24) that is located below the fuel tank 30. The rear cowl 52 is continuous with the side cover 51 at the rear. The rear cowl 52 surrounds the seat frame 24 from both sides and the rear in the vehicle width direction below the seat 31.

[0026] The front unit 60 includes a cowl main body 61 and a duct wing (second exterior component) 62. The cowl main body 61 surrounds the vehicle body 2 from the front and both sides in the vehicle width direction at the front part of the vehicle body 2. Specifically, the cowl main body 61 includes an upper cowl (front exterior component) 71, a middle cowl (first exterior component) 72, and a lower cowl 73.

[0027] Figure 2 is a front perspective view of the motorcycle 1. Figure 3 is a partial front view of the motorcycle 1. As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the upper cowl 71 constitutes the upper end portion of the front unit 60. The upper cowl 71 covers, from the front, the components (such as the upper part of the front fork 12 and the steering stem 25, etc.) at the upper front side of the vehicle body 2. Specifically, the upper cowl 71 includes an upper cover 81, a lower cover 82, and an overhanging portion 83.

[0028] Figure 4 is a partial side view of the motorcycle 1. The upper cover 81 extends upward as it goes rearward in the side view of the vehicle shown in FIG. 4, and extends outward in the vehicle width direction as it goes upward in the front view of the vehicle shown in FIG. 3. The lower cover 82 is connected to the lower edge of the upper cover 81. In the side view of the vehicle shown in FIG. 4, the lower cover 82 extends rearward as it goes downward. In the front view of the vehicle shown in FIG. 3, the dimension in the vehicle width direction of the lower cover 82 gradually decreases as it goes downward. In the lower cover 82, an air intake port 82a is formed at the central portion in the vehicle width direction. The air intake port 82a penetrates the lower cover 82 in the vehicle front-rear direction. The air taken in from the air intake port 82a is supplied to the engine 15 through an air cleaner (not shown) or the like. In the lower cover 82, light openings 82b are formed in portions located on both sides in the vehicle width direction with respect to the air intake port 82a. Headlights 84 are respectively arranged in the light openings 82b.

[0029] As shown in FIG. 4, the overhanging portion 83 is continuous downward from the lower edge of the lower cover 82. The overhanging portion 83 protrudes forward with respect to the lower cover 82 in the side view of the vehicle.

[0030] As shown in FIG. 3, in the overhanging portion 83, inlet ports 83a are respectively formed in portions located below each light opening 82b. Each inlet port 83a penetrates the overhanging portion 83 in the front-rear direction. Each inlet port 83a communicates the inside and outside of the front unit 60. Each inlet port 83a is formed in a polygonal shape (for example, a trapezoidal shape) in the front view of the vehicle. The opening area (cross-sectional area orthogonal to the opening direction) of each inlet port 83a gradually decreases from the front to the rear. Specifically, among the inner peripheral surfaces of each inlet port 83a, the portion located on the inner side in the width direction (hereinafter referred to as the guide surface 83a1) is formed as an inclined surface that extends outward in the vehicle width direction as it goes rearward. Therefore, in the front view of the vehicle, a part of the front end opening of each inlet port 83a overlaps with the corresponding front fork 12, and the rear end opening is located outside the corresponding front fork 12 in the vehicle width direction. The guide surface 83a1 of the present embodiment gradually decreases in dimension in the vehicle width direction as it goes upward in the front view of the vehicle. Note that the position, shape, etc. of the inlet port 83a can be appropriately changed.

[0031] As shown in FIG. 1, the middle cowls 72 are respectively disposed on both sides in the vehicle width direction with respect to the vehicle body 2, at positions below the handle 26. Each middle cowl 72 covers the central portion in the vertical direction (for example, the front portions of the front fork 12, the steering stem 25, the main frame 22, etc.) of the front portion of the vehicle body 2 from both sides in the vehicle width direction. Note that each middle cowl 72 has a bilaterally symmetric configuration. Therefore, hereinafter, the details of the middle cowl 72 will be described by taking one (right side) middle cowl 72 as an example.

[0032] As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the middle cowl 72 extends downward and rearward respectively from the portion located on the right side in the vehicle width direction of the lower end edge of the upper cowl 71 (lower cover 82). The middle cowl 72 includes an upper middle portion 85 and a lower middle portion 86 in a front view of the vehicle. In the front view of the vehicle shown in FIG. 3, the upper middle portion 85 extends outward in the vehicle width direction as it extends downward from the lower end edge of the upper cowl 71. The upper end edge of the upper middle portion 85 is located inside the outer edge in the vehicle width direction of the upper cover 81 in the vehicle width direction. In the side view of the vehicle shown in FIG. 4, the upper middle portion 85 extends upward as it extends rearward. The dimension in the vertical direction of the upper middle portion 85 gradually increases as it extends rearward.

[0033] The lower middle portion 86 is continuous with the lower end edge of the upper middle portion 85. In the front view of the vehicle shown in FIG. 3, the lower middle portion 86 extends downward in a curved state so as to bulge outward in the vehicle width direction. In the side view of the vehicle shown in FIG. 4, the lower middle portion 86 extends rearward as it extends downward. A protrusion 86a is formed at the upper and front end portions of the lower middle portion 86. The protrusion 86a protrudes outward in the vehicle width direction from the lower middle portion 86 and extends in the front-rear direction. As shown in FIG. 3, in a plan view of the vehicle, the protrusion 86a is formed in a trapezoidal shape in which the amount of protrusion in the vehicle width direction from the lower middle portion 86 gradually increases from both sides in the front-rear direction toward the central portion.

[0034] Among the lower middle portion 86, a pedestal portion 86b is formed in a portion located below the protrusion portion 86a. The pedestal portion 86b bulges outward in the vehicle width direction from the lower middle portion 86 and extends in the vehicle front-rear direction. In a front view of the vehicle, the protruding amount of the pedestal portion 86b from the lower middle portion 86 gradually decreases as it goes downward. The upper surface of the pedestal portion 86b is formed as an inclined surface that extends upward as it goes rearward. Among the lower middle portion 86, a through hole 86c is formed in a portion that is rearward of the protrusion portion 86a and above the pedestal portion 86b. In a side view, the through hole 86c extends in a slit shape obliquely upward in the front. The through hole 86c penetrates the lower middle portion 86 in the vehicle width direction to communicate the inside and outside of the cowl body 61.

[0035] As shown in FIG. 1, the lower cowl 73 extends downward from the lower end edge of each middle cowl 72. The lower cowl 73 constitutes the lower end portion of the front unit 60. The lower cowl 73 covers components at the lower front side in the vehicle body 2 (for example, the lower part of the engine 15 and the main frame 22, etc.) from both sides and the front in the vehicle width direction.

[0036] As shown in FIG. 3, the duct wings 62 are respectively provided on both sides in the vehicle width direction of the cowl body 61. Each duct wing 62 has a symmetric configuration. Therefore, hereinafter, the duct wing 62 provided on the right side among each duct wing 62 will be taken as an example to describe the details of the duct wing 62.

[0037] The duct wing 62 is an aerodynamic member that changes the flow of the oncoming wind outside in the vehicle width direction of the cowl body 61. Specifically, the duct wing 62 includes an upper mounting piece 91, a lower mounting piece 92, and a duct portion 93.

[0038] The upper mounting piece 91 is formed in a trapezoidal shape in which the dimension in the vehicle longitudinal direction gradually decreases as it goes upward in a side view of the vehicle shown in FIG. 4. Among the upper cowl 71, it is superposed from the right side on the portion reaching the lower cover 82 and the projecting portion 83. The upper edge of the upper mounting piece 91 is continuous with the portion of the lower edge of the upper cover 81 that is located behind the light opening 82b. The front edge of the upper mounting piece 91 extends along the opening edge of the light opening 82b and the opening edge of the inlet 83a. Specifically, the front edge of the upper mounting piece 91 extends downward as it goes forward in a side view of the vehicle, while extending inward in the vehicle width direction as it goes downward in a front view of the vehicle shown in FIG. 3. As shown in FIG. 4, the lower edge of the upper mounting piece 91 extends upward as it goes backward along the upper edge of the upper middle portion 85. Therefore, the outer surface of the upper mounting piece 91, together with the outer surface of the upper cowl 71 (upper cover 81), constitutes the outer surface of the front unit 60.

[0039] The lower mounting piece 92 is superposed on the side surface facing the outside in the vehicle width direction of the pedestal portion 86b. Therefore, the outer surface of the lower mounting piece 92, together with the outer surface of the middle cowl 72, constitutes the outer surface of the front unit 60. The lower mounting piece 92 extends outward in the vehicle width direction as it goes upward in a front view of the vehicle shown in FIG. 3.

[0040] The duct portion 93 is formed in a semi-cylindrical shape extending in the front-rear direction. The duct portion 93 connects between the lower edge of the upper mounting piece 91 and the upper edge of the lower mounting piece 92. The duct portion 93 includes an inclined portion 93a and a connecting portion 93b.

[0041] The inclined portion 93a extends outward in the vehicle width direction from the lower end edge of the upper mounting piece 91. That is, the inclined portion 93a extends outward in the vehicle width direction from the portion located at the upper end edge of the upper middle portion 85 of the middle cowl 72. As shown in FIG. 4, the inclined portion 93a extends upward as it goes rearward (the first side in the vehicle front-rear direction). In the example of FIG. 4, the inclination angle of the inclined portion 93a with respect to the front-rear direction is the same as the inclination angle of the upper middle portion 85 with respect to the front-rear direction. The inclined portion 93a extends downward as it goes outward in the vehicle width direction. Also, both the front and rear end edges of the inclined portion 93a extend in a direction approaching each other in the vehicle front-rear direction as they go outward in the vehicle width direction.

[0042] As shown in FIG. 3, the connecting portion 93b connects between the outer edge in the vehicle width direction of the inclined portion 93a and the upper end edge of the lower mounting piece 92. Specifically, the connecting portion 93b extends downward from the outer edge in the vehicle width direction of the inclined portion 93a in a state of bulging outward in the vehicle width direction. In the side view of the vehicle shown in FIG. 4, the connecting portion 93b extends rearward as it goes downward. Therefore, the front edge of the connecting portion 93b is located rearward of the front edge of the inclined portion 93a, and the rear edge of the connecting portion 93b is located rearward of the rear edge of the inclined portion 93a.

[0043] The space between the middle cowl 72 and the duct portion 93 constitutes a flow passage S through which the running wind passes. The flow passage S extends upward as it goes rearward. Therefore, among the flow passage S, the front end opening opens obliquely downward in the front, and the rear end opening opens obliquely upward in the rear. In the front view of the vehicle, at least a part of the front end opening of the flow passage S is located below the inlet 83a. However, the front end opening of the flow passage S may also be located above the inlet 83a. In the present embodiment, the cross-sectional area of the flow passage S (the area orthogonal to the extending direction) gradually increases as it goes rearward.

[0044] FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view corresponding to the line V-V in FIG. 4. Here, as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, in the upper middle portion 85, a communication portion 100 that communicates the inside and outside of the cowl body 61 is formed in the portion located within the flow passage S. The communication portion 100 is constituted by a plurality of communication holes 101 that penetrate the upper middle portion 85 in the vehicle width direction. Each communication hole 101 is arranged at equal intervals in the extending direction of the upper middle portion 85 (inclined portion 93a). In the side view of the vehicle shown in FIG. 4, each communication hole 101 is formed in a parallelogram shape with the vertical direction as the longitudinal direction and the upper end portion inclined in a state of being located forward with respect to the lower end portion. However, the shape of each communication hole 101 in side view can be appropriately changed.

[0045] In the side view of the vehicle, the dimensions of each communication hole 101 in the short side direction (the extending direction of the upper middle portion 85) are equal to each other. On the other hand, the dimension of each communication hole 101 in the longitudinal direction (the dimension in the direction intersecting the extending direction of the upper middle portion 85) gradually increases from the front communication hole 101 to the rear communication hole 101. Therefore, the communication portion 100 gradually increases in the vertical dimension from the front to the rear. However, the dimensions of each communication hole 101 can be appropriately changed.

[0046] In the front view of the vehicle shown in FIG. 3, at least a part of the communication portion 100 is located within the vertical height range T of the inlet 83a (vertically overlapping). In the present embodiment, among each communication hole 101, the communication holes 101 located in the first half (for example, the first four communication holes 101 from the front) are located within the vertical height range T of the inlet 83a. However, the communication portion 100 may be entirely located within the vertical height range T of the inlet 83a, or may be entirely vertically displaced with respect to the inlet 83a.

[0047] In a front view of the vehicle, the inclined portion 93a covers the entire communication portion 100 from the front. That is, in the front view of the vehicle, the communication portion 100 overlaps with the inclined portion 93a and is thus not visible from the front of the motorcycle 1. Note that the inclined portion 93a only needs to cover at least a part of the communication portion 100 from the front of the communication portion 100, and it is preferable that at least one of the communication holes 101 entirely covers the entire communication hole 101. In this case, in the front view of the vehicle, a part of the communication portion 100 may be displaced in the vertical direction or the vehicle width direction with respect to the inclined portion 93a.

[0048] As shown in FIG. 4, in a side view of the vehicle, the entire communication portion 100 is covered from the outside in the vehicle width direction by the duct portion 93. That is, in the side view of the vehicle, the communication portion 100 overlaps with the duct portion 93 and is thus not visible from the side of the motorcycle 1. In the present embodiment, the entire communication portion 100 overlaps with the inclined portion 93a in the side view of the vehicle. However, the communication portion 100 may overlap with the connecting portion 93b in the side view of the vehicle. Further, the communication portion 100 may be displaced in the front-rear direction with respect to the duct portion 93 in the side view of the vehicle.

[0049] In the motorcycle 1 of the present embodiment, among the traveling wind received by the front unit 60 from the front, a part of the traveling wind flows into the flow path S through the front end opening of the flow path S. As described above, the inclined portion 93a extends upward as it goes rearward. Therefore, the pressure in the flow path S (the space below the inclined portion 93a) becomes lower than the pressure in the space above the inclined portion 93a or in the cowl main body 61.

[0050] Of the oncoming air that the front unit 60 receives from the front, a part of the oncoming air is introduced into the cowl main body 61 through the inlet 83a. A part of the oncoming air introduced into the cowl main body 61 is discharged into the flow passage S through the communication portion 100 (each communication hole 101) under the influence of a negative pressure or the like generated in the lower space of the inclined portion 93a as it flows through the cowl main body 61. As a result, the oncoming air that has flowed into the flow passage S from the front end opening of the flow passage S is discharged from the flow passage S through the rear end opening of the flow passage S together with the oncoming air discharged into the flow passage S from the communication portion 100.

[0051] In this way, the motorcycle 1 of the present embodiment is configured such that a communication portion 100 that communicates the inside and outside of the middle cowl 72 is formed in a portion of the middle cowl 72 that is located below the inclined portion 93a. According to this configuration, the outside air in the middle cowl 72 flows out into the lower space of the inclined portion 93a through the communication portion 100. Therefore, the pressure difference between the lower space and the upper space of the inclined portion 93a can be reduced. As a result, the disturbance of the oncoming air around the middle cowl 72 can be suppressed. As a result, the operability can be improved. In particular, in the motorcycle 1 of the present embodiment, the inclined portion 93a is configured to cover at least a part of the communication portion 100 from the front of the communication portion 100. According to this configuration, the communication portion 100 is difficult to be visually recognized when viewed from the front of the vehicle. Therefore, it is possible to suppress a decrease in the design quality due to the formation of the communication portion 100 in terms of the vehicle appearance.

[0052] In the motorcycle 1 of the present embodiment, the inclined portion 93a is configured to overlap at least one of the plurality of communication holes 101 over the entire communication hole 101. According to this configuration, since the communication portion 100 is formed by the plurality of communication holes 101, it is possible to secure the opening area of the communication portion 100 and suppress a decrease in the strength of the middle cowl 72 or the like associated with the formation of the communication portion 100. In addition, by covering at least one communication hole 101 from the front with the inclined portion 93a, it is possible to suppress a decrease in the design quality due to the formation of the communication hole 101.

[0053] In the motorcycle 1 of the present embodiment, in a portion of the upper cowl 71 that is closer to the duct wing 62 than the center in the vehicle width direction and is located within the height range of the communication portion 100 in the vertical direction, an inlet 83a is formed. According to this configuration, it becomes possible to effectively take in the traveling wind into the cowl main body 61. Therefore, the traveling wind can be effectively supplied to the space below the inclined portion 93a through the communication portion 100.

[0054] In the motorcycle 1 of the present embodiment, in a portion of the inner peripheral surface of the inlet 83a that is located on the inner side in the vehicle width direction, a guide surface 83a1 that extends outward in the vehicle width direction as it goes rearward is formed. According to this configuration, in the process of the traveling wind flowing through the inlet 83a, it flows along the guide surface 83a1 and is guided outward in the vehicle width direction. Thereby, it is easy to guide the traveling wind that has flowed into the cowl main body 61 to the communication portion 100. Therefore, the traveling wind can be effectively supplied to the space below the inclined portion 93a through the communication portion 100.

[0055] In the motorcycle 1 of the present embodiment, the communication portion 100 is configured to extend along the extending direction of the inclined portion 93a. According to this configuration, it is easy to set the distance between the communication portion 100 and the inclined portion 93a evenly over the entire region in the vehicle longitudinal direction. Therefore, it is easy to supply the traveling wind through the communication portion 100 over the entire region in the vehicle longitudinal direction of the space below the inclined portion 93a.

[0056] In the motorcycle 1 of the present embodiment, when viewed from the opening direction of the communication portion 100 (communication hole 101), the dimension of the communication portion 100 in the direction intersecting the extending direction of the inclined portion 93a is configured to increase as it goes rearward. According to this configuration, it is possible to reduce the pressure loss when passing through the communication portion 100 as it goes rearward. Thereby, it is easy to supply the traveling wind through the communication portion 100 over the entire region in the vehicle longitudinal direction of the space below the inclined portion 93a.

[0057] In the motorcycle 1 of the present embodiment, the inclined portion 93a is configured to extend downward as it goes toward the outside in the vehicle width direction and cover at least a part of the communication portion 100 from the outside in the vehicle width direction with respect to the communication portion 100. According to this configuration, in a side view of the vehicle, the communication portion 100 is difficult to be visually recognized. Therefore, it is possible to suppress a decrease in design quality due to the formation of the communication portion 100 in terms of the vehicle appearance.

[0058] Here, the inventor of the present application verified the effect of the communication portion 100 of the present embodiment by numerical fluid dynamics (Computational Fluid Dynamics (hereinafter simply referred to as CFD)) analysis. In this verification, as an example, the motorcycle 1 having the communication portion 100 as described in the above-described embodiment was used, and as a comparative example, the motorcycle 1 not having the communication portion 100 was used. In each of the figures after FIG. 6, the same components as those of the motorcycle 1 of the embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals. Also, in each of the figures after FIG. 6, the flow of the traveling wind is linearly shown, and the flow velocity or pressure of the traveling wind is shown by the shade of color. In this case, it means that the flow velocity or pressure increases as the color becomes darker.

[0059] FIG. 6 is an explanatory view showing the result of CFD analysis of the motorcycle 1 according to the example as viewed from the side. FIG. 7 is an explanatory view showing the result of CFD analysis of the motorcycle 1 according to the comparative example as viewed from the side. FIG. 8 is an explanatory view showing the result of CFD analysis of the motorcycle 1 according to the example as viewed from the front. FIG. 9 is an explanatory view showing the result of CFD analysis of the motorcycle 1 according to the comparative example as viewed from the front. In FIGS. 6 to 9, the flow velocity of the traveling wind is shown by the shade of color. As in the comparative example shown in FIGS. 7 and 9, in the configuration without the communication portion 100, it can be seen that the flow velocity of the traveling wind decreases in the lower space of the inclined portion 93a in the flow passage S, and a negative pressure is generated. As a result, turbulence of the traveling wind occurs in the lower space of the inclined portion 93a. On the other hand, in the example shown in FIGS. 6 and 8, it can be seen that the generation of turbulent flow is suppressed as a result of the traveling wind being supplied to the lower space of the inclined portion 93a through the communication portion 100.

[0060] FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram showing the result of CFD analysis in a cross-sectional view of the motorcycle 1 according to the embodiment. FIG. 11 is an explanatory diagram showing the result of CFD analysis in a cross-sectional view of the motorcycle 1 according to the comparative example. In FIGS. 10 and 11, the pressure of the traveling wind is shown by the shade of color. As shown in FIG. 11, in the configuration without the communication portion 100, it can be seen that the pressure is reduced in the lower space of the inclined portion 93a in the flow passage S. On the other hand, in the embodiment shown in FIG. 10, as a result of the traveling wind being supplied to the lower space of the inclined portion 93a through the communication portion 100, it can be seen that the reduction in pressure is suppressed.

[0061] [Other Modifications] As described above, the preferred embodiments of the present invention have been described, but the present invention is not limited to these embodiments. Additions, omissions, substitutions, and other changes can be made without departing from the spirit of the present invention. The present invention is not limited by the foregoing description, but is limited only by the appended claims. In the above-described embodiment, the case where the configuration of the present invention is adopted for the racer-type motorcycle 1 has been described, but the present invention is not limited to this configuration, and the present invention can be applied to various types of motorcycles 1. In the above-described embodiment, the case where the exterior component structure according to the present invention is adopted for the motorcycle 1 has been described as an example, but the present invention is not limited to this configuration. The exterior component structure may be adopted for a three-wheeled (including a vehicle with one front wheel and two rear wheels, as well as a vehicle with two front wheels and one rear wheel) or four-wheeled (such as a four-wheel buggy) vehicle or the like. In the above-described embodiment, the configuration in which the inclined portion 93a extends upward as it goes rearward (the first side in the vehicle front-rear direction) has been described, but the present invention is not limited to this configuration. The inclined portion may extend upward as it goes forward (the first side in the vehicle front-rear direction). In this case, the communication portion is formed in a portion of the middle cowl 72 that is located above (the first side in the vertical direction) with respect to the inclined portion 93a.

[0062] In the above-described embodiment, the case where the inclined portion 93a and the connecting portion 93b constitute the duct portion 93 has been described, but the present invention is not limited to this configuration. The duct wing 62 may be configured such that it does not include the connecting portion 93b and the inclined portion 93a is formed as a cantilever. In this case, the lower space of the inclined portion 93a (the space surrounded by the inclined portion 93a and the middle cowl 72) constitutes a flow passage S that is open downward and outward in the vehicle width direction. In the above-described embodiment, the configuration in which the front unit 60 includes the duct wing 62 has been described, but the present invention is not limited to this configuration. The rear unit 50 may be configured to include a duct wing.

[0063] In the above-described embodiment, the configuration in which the inlet 83a is formed in the upper cowl 71 has been described, but the present invention is not limited to this configuration. In the above-described embodiment, the configuration in which the communication portion 100 is formed by a plurality of communication holes 101 has been described, but the present invention is not limited to this configuration. The communication portion 100 may be formed by a single hole. In the above-described embodiment, the configuration in which the communication portion 100 extends along the extending direction of the inclined portion 93a has been described, but the present invention is not limited to this configuration. The communication portion 100 may extend in a direction intersecting the extending direction of the inclined portion 93a. In the above-described embodiment, the configuration in which the communication holes 101 are arranged in the vehicle front-rear direction has been described, but the present invention is not limited to this configuration. The communication holes 101 may be arranged in the vertical direction or the like.

[0064] In addition, within the scope not departing from the gist of the present invention, it is possible to appropriately replace the components in the above-described embodiment with well-known components, and the above-described modification examples may also be appropriately combined.

Explanation of Reference Numerals

[0065] 2: Vehicle body 60: Front unit (exterior component structure) 62: Duct wing (second exterior component) 71: Upper cowl (front exterior component) 72: Middle cowl (first exterior component) 83a: Inlet 83a1: Guide surface 93a: Inclined portion 100: Communication portion 101: Communication hole

Claims

1. A first exterior component (72) disposed outside the vehicle body (2) in the vehicle width direction and covering the vehicle body from the side; A second exterior component (62) extending outward in the vehicle width direction from the first exterior component (72) and having an inclined portion (93a) extending upward as it goes toward the first side in the vehicle longitudinal direction, and forming a space (S) penetrating in the vehicle longitudinal direction between the second exterior component (62) and the first exterior component (72); In a portion of the first exterior component (72) located on the first side in the vertical direction with respect to the inclined portion (93a), a communication portion (100) for communicating the inside and outside of the first exterior component (72) is formed; The inclined portion (93a) has an exterior component structure that covers at least a part of the communication portion (100) from the front of the communication portion (100).

2. The communication portion (100) includes a plurality of communication holes (101); In a front view of the vehicle, the exterior component structure according to claim 1, wherein the inclined portion (93a) covers the whole of at least one of the plurality of communication holes (101).

3. A front exterior component (71) disposed in front of the vehicle body (2) and covering the vehicle body (2) from the front; In a portion of the front exterior component (71) located closer to the first exterior component (72) than the center in the vehicle width direction and within the height range of the communication portion (100) in the vertical direction, an inlet (83a) for communicating the inside and outside of the front exterior component (71) is formed. The exterior component structure according to claim 1 or claim 2.

4. On a portion of the inner peripheral surface of the inlet (83a) located on the inner side in the vehicle width direction, a guide surface (83a1) extending outward in the vehicle width direction as it goes rearward is formed. The exterior component structure according to claim 3.

5. The communication portion (100) extends along the extending direction of the inclined portion (93a). The exterior component structure according to claim 1 or claim 2.

6. The exterior component structure according to claim 5, wherein, when viewed from the opening direction of the communication portion (100), the dimension of the communication portion (100) in the direction intersecting the extending direction increases as it goes rearward.

7. The exterior component structure according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the inclined portion (93a) extends toward the first side in the vertical direction as it goes toward the outside in the vehicle width direction, and covers at least a part of the communication portion (100) from the outside in the vehicle width direction with respect to the communication portion.

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