Saddle-type vehicle

The saddle-type vehicle design addresses the issue of increased costs and parts by positioning the fuse box outside the battery box, covered by an extension, effectively protecting it from water ingress and maintaining component accessibility.

JP7847523B2Active Publication Date: 2026-04-17HONDA MOTOR CO LTD
View PDF 7 Cites 0 Cited by

Patent Information

Authority / Receiving Office
JP · JP
Patent Type
Patents
Current Assignee / Owner
HONDA MOTOR CO LTD
Filing Date
2022-09-30
Publication Date
2026-04-17

AI Technical Summary

Technical Problem

Conventional saddle-riding type vehicles face increased costs and part count due to the use of highly waterproof fuses and separate cover members for the fuse box, which are not effectively addressing water ingress issues.

Method used

A saddle-type vehicle design with a battery box positioned in front of the head pipe, where the battery is housed inside the box and the fuse box is positioned outside, covered by an extension from the box body, which overlaps with the battery box in a plan view, and is supported by a second support portion, reducing the number of components while protecting against water ingress.

Benefits of technology

This configuration reduces costs and parts while effectively shielding the fuse box from water and disturbances, maintaining battery maintainability and improving traffic safety.

✦ Generated by Eureka AI based on patent content.

Smart Images

  • Figure 0007847523000001
    Figure 0007847523000001
  • Figure 0007847523000002
    Figure 0007847523000002
  • Figure 0007847523000003
    Figure 0007847523000003
Patent Text Reader

Abstract

To reduce costs and the number of components and suppress influence on a second electric component by exposure to water etc. in a saddle-riding type vehicle including a battery box in front of a head tube and including the second electric component around the battery box.SOLUTION: A battery 40 is housed in a battery box 60, and a fuse box 50 is disposed outside the battery box 60. The battery box 60 includes: a box body 61 along an outer shape of the battery 40; and an extension part 81 extending from the box body 61 to the outer side of the box body 61 in a vehicle plan view. The fuse box 50 is disposed above the extension part 81 and arranged so as to overlap with the extension part 81 in the vehicle plan view.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 4
Need to check novelty before this filing date? Find Prior Art

Description

Technical Field

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

Background Art

[0002] Conventionally, in a saddle-riding type vehicle having a battery box in front of a head pipe and arranging a fuse box (second electrical component) on one side in the vehicle width direction of the battery box, there is a configuration in which the fuse box is supported by a fuse holder provided in the battery box (for example, see Patent Document 1). In addition, there is a configuration in which a cover member for covering a battery housed in the battery box is provided separately, and this cover member also covers the fuse box (for example, see Patent Document 2).

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Patent Document 2

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] By the way, in the above conventional technology, in response to water ingress into the fuse box, a highly waterproof (no problem even if water enters) fuse is used, or the fuse box is covered with a cover different from the battery box. For this reason, there has been a problem of increasing costs and the number of parts.

[0005] Therefore, an object of the present invention is to suppress the influence of water ingress or the like on the second electrical component while reducing costs and the number of parts in a saddle-riding type vehicle having a battery box in front of the head pipe and second electrical components around the battery box. And, by extension, it contributes to the development of a sustainable transportation system by further improving traffic safety. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] As a means of solving the above problems, a first aspect of the present invention is a saddle-type vehicle (1) comprising a head pipe (21a) provided at the front end of a vehicle frame (21), a front vehicle cover (16) covering the periphery of the head pipe (21a), and a battery box (60) positioned inside the front vehicle cover (16) on the front side of the head pipe (21a), wherein a battery (40) is housed in the battery box (60) and a second electrical component (50) is positioned outside the battery box (60), wherein the battery box (60) comprises a box body (61) conforming to the outer shape of the battery (40) and an extension (81) extending from the box body (61) to the outside of the box body (61) in a plan view of the vehicle, and the second electrical component (50) is positioned above the extension (81) and positioned so as to overlap with the extension (81) in a plan view of the vehicle. This configuration allows the extension portion from the battery box body to cover the area below the second electrical component, protecting the second electrical component from water and disturbances from below without increasing the number of components.

[0007] A second aspect of the present invention is characterized in that, in the first aspect described above, the battery box (60) comprises a second support portion (71) for supporting the second electrical component (50) and a battery holding member (67) for holding the battery (40) inside the box body (61), wherein the second support portion (71) comprises a member fixing portion (76) for fixing the battery holding member (67). This configuration allows the battery holding member to be fixed using the second support part that supports the second electrical component, thereby simplifying the structure and reducing the number of parts.

[0008] A third aspect of the present invention is characterized in that, in the first or second aspect described above, the box body (61) comprises a pair of left and right side wall portions (64, 65) that cover the battery (40) from the outside in the vehicle width direction, the box body (61) allows the battery (40) to be inserted into and removed from a box opening (69) formed between the pair of left and right side wall portions (64, 65), and the extension portion (81) is formed to extend outward in the vehicle width direction from one of the side wall portions (65). With this configuration, the extension extends outward in the vehicle width direction beyond the box opening between the left and right side walls of the box body. As a result, the extension does not obstruct the insertion and removal of the battery, maintaining good battery maintainability while protecting the secondary electrical components from water and disturbances from below.

[0009] A fourth aspect of the present invention is characterized in that, in the third aspect described above, the extension portion (81) comprises a plate-like portion (82) having a plate thickness in the vertical direction, and a vertical wall portion (83) extending vertically from the outer edge of the plate-like portion (82). With this configuration, since vertical walls are provided at the outer edge of the plate-like portion, the vertical walls reinforce the extension portion, thereby improving the rigidity of the extension portion.

[0010] A fifth aspect of the present invention is characterized in that, in the fourth aspect described above, the vertical wall portion (83) rises upward from the front edge (82b2) of the plate-like portion (82) and is positioned in front of the second electrical component (50) in a plan view of the vehicle. With this configuration, the vertical wall is positioned on the front side of the second electrical component, making it easier to avoid water exposure and disturbances to the second electrical component. If the extension extends outward in the vehicle width direction, the extension can be effectively reinforced.

[0011] A sixth aspect of the present invention is, in the fifth aspect described above, the plate-shaped portion (82) comprises a base portion (82a) adjacent to the outer side in the vehicle width direction of the side wall portion (65) of the box body (61), and a main body portion (82b) that is connected to the outer side in the vehicle width direction of the base portion (82a), has a shape that extends further rearward than the base portion (82a), and is arranged to overlap with the second electrical component (50) in a plan view of the vehicle, wherein a notch portion (84) or an opening is formed in the inner side in the vehicle width direction at the rear of the main body portion (82b). With this configuration, the space can be widened by a notch or opening on the rear side of the base of the extension and on the inner side in the vehicle width direction of the rear of the main body. Therefore, even when arranging cable-like members such as harnesses inside the front cover of the vehicle body in the aforementioned space, these cable-like members can be arranged more easily.

[0012] A seventh aspect of the present invention is characterized in that, in the sixth aspect, the outer edge (82b1) of the extension (81) on the outer side in the vehicle width direction is inclined so as it approaches the rear, the second electrical component (50) has an outer shape that is elongated in one direction when viewed from above, and the second electrical component (50) is arranged so that its longitudinal direction when viewed from above aligns with the outer edge (82b1) of the extension (81). With this configuration, the outer edge of the extension on the outside in the vehicle width direction is inclined so that it is positioned further outward in the vehicle width direction towards the rear, and the second electrical component is positioned with its longitudinal direction in plan view parallel to the outer edge of the extension. This makes it easier for the extension to cover the second electrical component from below, even when it is positioned diagonally to conform to the shape of the front cover of the vehicle body. The space on the inside in the vehicle width direction behind the extension and the second electrical component is widened, making it easier to use this space as a component placement space. [Effects of the Invention]

[0013] According to the present invention, in a saddle-type vehicle equipped with a battery box in front of the head pipe and second electrical components around the battery box, it is possible to reduce costs and the number of parts while suppressing the effects of water exposure and other factors on the second electrical components.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0014] [Figure 1] It is a right side view of a motorcycle in an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2] It is a right side view of the front part of the motorcycle body, shown through the body cover. [Figure 3] It is a front view of the front part of the motorcycle body, shown through the body cover. [Figure 4] It is a top view of the front part of the motorcycle body, shown through the body cover. [Figure 5] It is a plan view of the battery box. [Figure 6] It is a right side view of the battery box. [Figure 7] It is a front view of the battery box. [Figure 8] It is a rear view of the battery box.

Embodiments for Carrying Out the Invention

[0015] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. In the following description, the directions such as front, rear, left, and right are the same as those in the vehicle described below unless otherwise specified. Also, in the figures used in the following description, arrows FR indicating the front of the vehicle, arrows LH indicating the left side of the vehicle, arrows UP indicating the upper side of the vehicle, and a line CL indicating the center of the vehicle left and right are shown at appropriate positions. In this embodiment, the "middle" used means not only the center between both ends of the object but also the range inside between both ends of the object.

[0016] <Vehicle as a Whole> FIG. 1 shows a scooter-type motorcycle 1 as an example of a straddle-type vehicle. The motorcycle 1 includes a front wheel 3 that is a steering wheel and a rear wheel 4 that is a drive wheel. The front wheel 3 is supported by a pair of left and right front forks 3a and is rotatable (steerable) by a bar handle 2. The rear wheel 4 is supported by a swing-type power unit 8 and is drivable by the power unit 8. In the figure, reference numeral 2a denotes grip portions on both left and right sides of the bar handle 2, and reference numeral 2b denotes a handle cover that covers the periphery of the bar handle 2 except for the left and right grip portions 2a.

[0017] A steering system component 9 including the bar handle 2, the front forks 3a, and the front wheel 3 is rotatably (steerably) supported by a head pipe 21a at the front end of a vehicle body frame 21 via a steering shaft 23. The front portion of the power unit 8 is supported by the lower portion of the vehicle body frame 21 so as to be vertically swingable. The vehicle body frame 21 includes a head pipe 21a, a down frame 21b that extends downward and rearward from the head pipe 21a, a lower frame 21c that extends rearward from the lower portion of the down frame 21b, and a rear frame 21d that extends rearward and upward from the rear portion of the lower frame 21c.

[0018] In the figure, reference numeral 3b denotes a front fender that covers the upper side of the front wheel 3. The front fender �b is attached to a bridge member 3c below the head pipe 21a. The bridge member 3c supports the upper end portions of the left and right front forks 3a. The front fender 3b and the bridge member 3c are included in the steering system component 9. Above the bridge member 3c, the left and right front forks 3a do not protrude. Therefore, it is easy to secure a component arrangement space within a front body cover 16 in the extending direction of the left and right front forks 3a. A wheel house 3d as an open space for rotatably arranging the rear upper portions of the front wheel 3 and the front fender 3b is formed on the front lower side of the front body cover 16. The internal space K2 of the front body cover 16 partially communicates with the inside of the wheel house 3d.

[0019] A floor step 6 is provided between the front wheel 3 and the rear wheel 4, where the driver places their feet. A front body 14 is provided in front of the floor step 6. A rear body 15 is provided behind the floor step 6. The space K1 above the floor step 6 between the front body 14 and the rear body 15 is the space K1 that the driver straddles when stepping over the vehicle. A handle 2 is positioned above the front body 14. A seat 5 where the occupant sits is supported above the rear body 15. A foldable side stand (not shown) is provided on the lower left side of the floor step 6, which can support the vehicle in an upright position with the vehicle tilted to the left.

[0020] The power unit 8 includes, for example, an engine 8a, which is an internal combustion engine, and a transmission device (for example, a belt-type continuously variable transmission, not shown) that transmits the driving force generated by the engine 8a to the rear wheels 4. The transmission device is, for example, located on the left side of the vehicle body. The configuration of the power unit 8 can vary, and for example, it may be equipped with an electric motor as the drive source.

[0021] The body frame 21 of the motorcycle 1 is covered by a body cover 11. The body cover 11 includes a front cover 11a that covers the front of the body frame 21 from the front, an inner cover 11b that covers the front of the body frame 21 from the rear, a floor cover 11c that covers the lower part of the body frame 21 from above, and a rear body cover 11d that covers the rear of the body frame 21 from the front and sides. The front cover 11a and the inner cover 11b constitute a front body cover 16 that forms the outer surface of the front body 14. The front body cover 16 also serves as a leg shield that covers the front of the rider's legs. The upper surface of the floor cover 11c constitutes a floor step 6. The floor step 6 forms a flat upper surface (footrest surface) over the entire width in the vehicle width direction, for example. The floor step 6 may include a center tunnel that rises upward on the inside in the vehicle width direction. The rear body cover 11d forms the outer surface of the rear body 15. The body cover 11, with the exception of the steering wheel cover 2b, is fixed directly or indirectly to the body frame 21.

[0022] An inner box 26 capable of storing items is located on the left side of the rear of the vehicle on the front body cover 16. A main switch 29, including the ignition switch and various lock / unlock switches, is located on the right side of the rear of the vehicle (occupant side, inner cover 11b side) on the front body cover 16.

[0023] As shown in Figures 2 to 4, the motorcycle 1 includes a first functional component 31 supported by the handle cover 2b and thus the handlebar 2, which rotates integrally with the handlebar 2; a first cable-like member 33 routed within the front body cover 16 and connected to the first functional component 31; a second functional component 35 supported by the vehicle body 22 excluding the steering system components 9, which is held (fixed) in a position on the vehicle body 22 without rotating integrally with the steering system components 9; and a second cable-like member 37 routed within the front body cover 16 and connected to the second functional component 35. In this embodiment, "vehicle body 22" is a concept that includes not only the vehicle frame 21 that supports the steering system components 9, but also components fixed to the vehicle frame 21.

[0024] For example, the first functional component 31 includes steering wheel-side controls operated by the driver (brake lever, clutch lever, accelerator sleeve, etc.), as well as steering wheel-side electrical components 31b such as headlights, turn signals, steering wheel switches, and meter devices. "Rotating as a whole" includes not only rotation as a whole, but also rotation in conjunction via connecting parts. The steering shaft 23 is not limited to a physical shaft, but may also be a virtual shaft. The first functional component 31 of this embodiment is the right brake lever 31a as a handle-side operating element, and the headlight, handle switch, and meter device as handle-side electrical components 31b. The headlight and other lighting devices such as turn signals may be provided on either the vehicle body 22 side or the handlebar 2 side, depending on the model.

[0025] The first cable-like member 33 includes an operating cable (or hydraulic hose) extending from the steering wheel side control element downwards (towards the steering wheel side), a wire harness (hereinafter simply referred to as a harness) connected to the steering wheel side electrical component 31b, etc. The first cable-like member 33 is not limited to rotating entirely with the steering wheel 2, but may rotate with the steering wheel 2 only within a specified range. The first cable-like member 33 in this embodiment is a brake hose 33a extending from the right brake lever 31a to the front brake caliper, and a handle-side branch harness 33b branching off from a main harness (not shown) and connected to the handle-side electrical component 31b.

[0026] The second functional component 35 is fixed to the vehicle body 22 without rotating together with the handlebar 2, and includes vehicle-side electrical components such as the battery 40, fuse box 50, ECU (Electronic Control Unit) 58, USB (Universal Serial Bus) port (USB socket), horn, main switch 29, as well as vehicle-side controls for operating various locking mechanisms and the parking brake. "Fixed to the vehicle body 22" means "not rotating together with the handlebar 2," and includes not only being completely fixed to the vehicle body 22, but also being able to operate independently of the rotation of the handlebar 2. The second functional component 35 of the embodiment is a vehicle-side electrical component such as a battery 40, a fuse box 50, and an ECU 58.

[0027] The second cable-like member 37 may be a wire harness connected to the vehicle body's electrical components (hereinafter simply referred to as a harness), an operating cable (or hydraulic hose) extending from the vehicle body's operating device, etc. The second cable-like member 37 in this embodiment is a vehicle-side branch harness 37a that branches off from a main harness (not shown) and connects to vehicle-side electrical components.

[0028] In the internal space K2 formed between the front cover 11a and the inner cover 11b (or on the outer surface of the cover), at least one of the vehicle body electrical components and the vehicle body operating components is arranged as a second functional component 35. In this embodiment, the vehicle body electrical components such as a battery 40, a fuse box 50, and an ECU 58 are arranged in the internal space K2. The first cable-like member 33 and the second cable-like member 37 are arranged within the internal space K2. In this embodiment, the brake hose 33a and the handle-side branch harness 33b are arranged as the first cable-like member 33, and the vehicle body-side branch harness 37a is arranged as the second cable-like member 37.

[0029] A hydraulic brake hose, the brake hose 33a, is routed between the right brake lever 31a (a master cylinder linked to the right brake lever 31a in this embodiment) on the right side of the handlebar 2 and the front brake (a caliper in this embodiment). The brake hose 33a extends diagonally from the right brake lever 31a (master cylinder) toward the center CL side of the vehicle and downward, and enters the front body cover 16 from the lower end of the handlebar cover 2b.

[0030] The brake hose 33a curves to the right after reaching the left side of the vehicle body within the front body cover 16, and extends diagonally downward and to the right side of the vehicle body in front of the head pipe 21a. Subsequently, the brake hose 33a curves downward and forward to pass behind the battery 40 and the fuse box 50. After that, the lower end of the brake hose 33a connects to the caliper located on the right side of the front wheel 3. After passing in front of the head pipe 21a, the brake hose 33a is routed off-center to the right side of the vehicle body (one side in the vehicle width direction) relative to the vehicle's center CL.

[0031] In the internal space K2 sandwiched between the front cover 11a and the inner cover 11b of the front body cover 16, vehicle-side electrical components such as the battery 40, fuse box 50, and ECU 58 are located.

[0032] Referring to Figure 4, a trapezoidal space K3, which is wider towards the rear in a plan view, is formed between the battery 40 and the fuse box 50. The fuse box 50 is positioned to the right of the battery 40, leaving the trapezoidal space K3 in a plan view. Referring to Figure 5, below the space K3, a second support portion 71 is positioned, extending to the right of the battery box (battery case) 60, which will be described later. Below the second support portion 71, the base portion 82a of a plate-shaped extension portion 81, which also extends to the right of the battery box 60, is positioned. The second support portion 71 and the base portion 82a are trapezoidal portions in plan view, located between the right side of the battery box 60 and the left side of the diagonally positioned fuse box 50. Details of the battery box 60 will be described later.

[0033] Referring to Figures 4 and 6, the battery 40 is positioned in front of the head pipe 21a and straddles the center CL of the vehicle on both sides. The battery 40 is a 12V onboard power supply and has a rectangular parallelepiped shape. The battery 40 is positioned with its front and rear surfaces 41 and 42 parallel to the vehicle width direction, and in a side view of the vehicle, the front and rear surfaces 41 and 42 are tilted to be approximately parallel to the head pipe 21a (tilted so that the upper side is located further back). Positive terminals 43a and negative terminals 43b are located on both the left and right sides of the front of the upper surface 43 of the battery 40. The battery 40 is positioned to the left of the vehicle's center CL by a predetermined amount. This makes it easier to position other components, such as the fuse box 50, to the right of the battery 40.

[0034] The battery 40 is housed in a battery box 60 made of synthetic resin. The battery box 60 has a box body 61 formed in the shape of a rectangular parallelepiped to conform to the external shape of the battery 40. The box body 61 opens towards the front of the vehicle, allowing the battery 40 to be inserted and removed from the front of the vehicle.

[0035] Referring to Figures 5 to 8, the box body 61 includes a lower wall portion 62 that supports the lower surface 44 of the battery 40 from below, a rear wall portion 63 that supports the rear surface 42 of the battery 40 from behind, a left wall portion 64 and a right wall portion 65 that are arranged to cover the left and right sides of the battery 40 from the left and right sides, and an upper wall portion 66 that is arranged to cover the rear side of the upper surface 43 of the battery 40 from above.

[0036] The rear wall portion 63 of the box body 61 is inclined in a side view such that the upper part is located further back. The rear wall portion 63 is inclined parallel to the axis of the head pipe 21a (steering axis, corresponding to the steering axis 23 in Figure 2) in a side view and is positioned along the front of the head pipe 21a. The rear wall portion 63 is provided with fastening portions 63a that can be fastened to the head pipe 21a. By fastening the rear wall portion 63 to the head pipe 21a, the battery box 60 is fixed to the head pipe 21a. The left and right side wall portions 64 and 65 extend forward from the left and right edges of the rear wall portion 63, approximately perpendicular to the rear wall portion 63. The upper and lower wall portions 66 and 62 extend forward from the upper and lower edges of the rear wall portion 63, approximately perpendicular to the rear wall portion 63.

[0037] The front of the box body 61 forms a box opening 69 surrounded by the front edges of the lower wall 62, the left and right side walls 64, 65, and the upper wall 66. The battery 40 can be inserted into and removed from the front of the vehicle from the box body 61, approximately parallel to the left and right side walls 64, 65 and the upper and lower walls 62. The length of the upper wall 66 is shortened in the forward direction, exposing the positive and negative terminals 43a, 43b so that the harness can be attached and detached. Alternatively, the upper wall 66 may be eliminated, and the box opening 69 may be extended to the top of the box body 61, allowing the battery 40 to be inserted into and removed from the upper side of the box body 61, approximately parallel to the left and right side walls 64, 65 and the rear wall 63. In this case, a front wall may be provided that spans between the front edges of the left and right side walls 64, 65.

[0038] The right side wall portion 65 of the battery box 60 is provided with a second support portion 71 and an extension portion 81 on its outer side in the left-right direction (vehicle width direction). The second support portion 71 and the extension portion 81 are integrally formed with, for example, the right side wall portion 65. The second support portion 71 extends from the outer surface of the upper-middle portion of the right side wall portion 65 to the right in a plan view of the vehicle (outside the box body 61), and is capable of supporting the fuse box (second electrical component) 50. The extension portion 81 is positioned below and separated from the second support portion 71, extending to the right (outside the box body 61) in a vehicle plan view from the lower outer surface of the right side wall portion 65, and is positioned to overlap with the entire fuse box 50 in a vehicle plan view (see Figure 4).

[0039] The battery box 60 is equipped with a battery retaining band 67 for holding the battery 40 inside the box body 61. The battery retaining band 67 is provided to cross the rectangular box opening 69 from left to right in the vertical middle section when viewed from the front to back. The battery retaining band 67 is made of, for example, a steel plate and is in the shape of a strip extending in the left to right direction. The left end of the battery retaining band 67 is a hook portion 67a that can be locked to the left side wall portion 64 of the box body 61 while restricting its movement toward the front of the vehicle. A band locking portion for locking the hook portion 67a is integrally formed on the outer surface of the front side (box opening 69 side) of the left side wall portion 64 of the box body 61. The left and right ends (right end) of the battery retaining band 67 are fastening portions (bolt insertion portions) 67b that can be fastened and fixed to the right side wall portion 65 of the box body 61. The front end of the second support portion 71 is located on the outside of the front side (box opening 69 side) of the right side wall portion 65 of the box body 61. The front end of the second support portion 71 constitutes a band fastening portion 76 that can be fastened to the fastening portion 67b of the battery retaining band 67 by a bolt B1 that is screwed in from the front side. The band fastening portion 76 is constructed, for example, by attaching a clip nut 76a to the front wall portion 73 of the second support portion 71.

[0040] The second support portion 71 includes a bottom wall portion 72 having plate thickness in the vertical direction, a front wall portion 73 extending upward by bending from the front end edge of the bottom wall portion 72, a rear wall portion 74 extending upward by bending from the rear end edge of the bottom wall portion 72, and a mounting wall portion 75 extending upward by bending from the outer end edge of the bottom wall portion 72, to which the fuse box 50 can be attached.

[0041] The bottom wall 72 has a trapezoidal shape that widens towards the rear when viewed from above. The bottom wall 72 slopes upward towards the front when viewed from the side of the vehicle, but its angle of inclination is smaller than that of the lower wall 62 of the box body 61. The front wall portion 73 is rectangular in shape when viewed from the front-rear direction and is provided parallel to the vehicle width direction. A clip nut 76a is attached to this front wall portion 73 from above, forming a band fastening portion 76 for fixing the right end of the battery retaining band 67.

[0042] The rear wall portion 74 has a long rectangular shape when viewed from the front-to-rear direction, but in a plan view it is formed in a shallow V-shape that protrudes forward. The rear wall portion 74 is provided with the inner portion in the vehicle width direction parallel to the vehicle width direction, and the outer portion in the vehicle width direction is provided at an incline so that it is located further rearward as it moves outward. The rear wall portion 74 and the rear of the right side wall portion 65 of the box body 61 form a concave shape that is recessed toward the front in a plan view of the vehicle. Behind the second support portion 71, the brake hose 33a is routed to extend downward (see Figure 4). The concave shape makes it easy to arrange cable-like members such as the brake hose 33a. The rear wall portion 74 rises up from the rear end edge of the bottom wall portion 72, which suppresses edge interference with the brake hose 33a and other components.

[0043] The mounting wall portion 75 is configured to have multiple locking claws 75a, etc., formed along a reference surface 75b (see Figure 5) which is inclined so that it is located further rearward as it moves outward in the vehicle width direction. Referring to Figure 4, the fuse box 50, which is attached to the mounting wall 75, will be described. The fuse box 50 has an outer shape that is elongated in one direction (along the direction of arrow X in the figure, the X direction) and is generally rectangular. The fuse box 50 is positioned to the right of the box body 61 and its lower surface is positioned approximately parallel to the bottom wall 72 of the second support part 71. The fuse box 50 is positioned with an inclination in the elongated direction (X direction) such that, in a plan view, the rear side is positioned further outward in the vehicle width direction. A harness (not shown) is connected to the lower surface of the fuse box 50.

[0044] The fuse box 50 comprises a box body 51 and a lid member 55 that covers the top of the box body 51. The box body 51 and the lid member 55 each have a rectangular parallelepiped shape that is elongated in the X direction. In the figure, arrow Z indicates the height direction of the fuse box 50 (the direction in which the box body 51 and the lid member 55 are attached and detached), and arrow Y indicates the width direction which is perpendicular to the X direction (length direction) and the Z direction (height direction).

[0045] The box body 51 houses, for example, multiple flat (blade) fuses. The fuse box 50 is provided with a lid locking structure 52 at both ends in the X direction for fixing a lid member 55 to the box body 51. One side of the box body 51 in the Y direction is provided with a locking portion (not shown) for fixing to the mounting wall portion 75 of the second support portion 71. The locking portion can be locked to a corresponding locking claw 75a, etc., by inserting the locking claw 75a, etc., from below. By locking this locking portion to the mounting wall portion 75, the fuse box 50 is fixed to the outside of the second support portion 71 in the vehicle width direction.

[0046] Referring to Figures 5 to 8, the extension portion 81 comprises a plate-like portion 82 having thickness in the vertical direction, and a vertical wall portion 83 that bends upward from the front edge of the plate-like portion 82. The plate-like portion 82 is inclined upwards when viewed from the side of the vehicle, and its angle of inclination is approximately the same as the angle of inclination of the lower wall portion 62 of the box body 61. The plate-like portion 82 is provided so as to extend the lower wall portion 62 of the box body 61 to the right.

[0047] The plate-shaped portion 82 comprises a base portion 82a adjacent to the outer side in the vehicle width direction of the right side wall portion 65 of the box body 61, and a main body portion 82b adjacent to the outer side in the vehicle width direction of the base portion 82a and having a shape that extends further rearward than the base portion 82a. The base portion 82a has a trapezoidal or rectangular shape that is wider towards the rear when viewed from above, and is provided so that it overlaps with the second support portion 71 when viewed from above.

[0048] The main body portion 82b has a rectangular shape that is elongated in the front-rear direction when viewed from above, and is inclined so that the rear end is positioned further outward in the vehicle width direction. The inclination angle of the main body portion 82b when viewed from above is the same as the inclination angle of the fuse box 50 when viewed from above (see Figure 4). The outer edge 82b1 of the main body portion 82b on the outer side in the vehicle width direction is inclined so that the rear end is positioned further outward in the vehicle width direction when viewed from above. In the figure, reference numeral 82b2 indicates the front edge of the main body portion 82b, reference numeral 82b3 indicates the rear edge, and reference numeral 82b4 indicates the inner edge on the inner side in the vehicle width direction. The front edge 82b2 of the main body portion 82b is continuous with the front edge of the base portion 82a.

[0049] Referring also to Figure 4, the fuse box 50 is positioned so that its longitudinal direction (X direction) in a plan view is aligned with the outer edge 82b1 of the main body 82b, and an extension 81 is positioned below the fuse box 50. The extension 81 is provided so as to overlap the entire fuse box 50 in a plan view of the vehicle.

[0050] The lower part of the front body cover 16 is connected to the wheel well 3d, and rainwater and other elements can enter the front body cover 16 along with the airflow while driving. In contrast, the battery 40 is covered by the box body 61 of the battery box 60, which suppresses it from being affected by external disturbances such as water coming from below. Similarly, the fuse box 50 is covered from below by the extension 81, which also suppresses it from being affected by external disturbances such as water coming from below, just like the battery 40. The extension 81 is integrally formed with the battery box 60, which suppresses an increase in the number of parts and costs.

[0051] A concave notch 84 is formed on the inner side of the rear portion of the main body 82b (the part behind the base portion 82a) in the vehicle width direction, causing the inner edge 82b4 to be recessed outward in the vehicle width direction. Since cable-like members such as brake hoses 33a are arranged in the space behind the base portion 82a, the notch 84 allows for an expansion of the space for the cable-like members. As a configuration to expand (secure) the space for the cable-like members, an opening for inserting the cable-like members may be formed near the inner edge 82b4 instead of the notch 84. In this case, the opening should be of a size that does not affect the prevention of water ingress into the fuse box 50.

[0052] The vertical wall portion 83 has a rectangular shape that is long in the vehicle width direction when viewed from the front-rear direction and is provided parallel to the vehicle width direction. The vertical wall portion 83 is positioned in front of the fuse box 50 in a top view of the vehicle. The fuse box 50 and the main body portion 82b are inclined downwards towards the rear when viewed from the side, and the front end is positioned higher. In addition, by providing the vertical wall portion 83 in front of the fuse box 50, it becomes easier to further suppress water ingress into the fuse box 50. A downward-projecting downward rib 83a is integrally formed on the lower surface of the main body portion 82b. The downward rib 83a is positioned near the left-right center of the main body portion 82b and reinforces the plate-shaped main body portion 82b. A clip mounting portion 83b for attaching harness clips, etc., is integrally formed on the front outer side of the lower surface of the main body portion 82b. The front end of the downward rib 83a is connected to the inner end of the clip mounting portion 83b, and these are integrated in an L-shape.

[0053] The battery box 60 is equipped with a pair of left and right cowl stays 85 that extend from the front of the lower wall portion 62 of the box body 61 toward the front of the vehicle. The cowl stays 85 extend downward from the front of the lower wall portion 62 and then curve forward. The right cowl stay 85 is provided straddling the front of the extension portion 81 from the front of the lower wall portion 62. Above the right cowl stay 85, a harness retaining arm 88 is provided that extends forward from the right wall portion 65 and holds the harness between itself and the right cowl stay 85. A clip nut 86a is attached to the front end of each cowl stay 85, forming a cowl fastening portion 86 for fixing the fastened portion 11a1 of the front cover 11a. The fastened portion of the front cover 11a can be fastened to the cowl fastening portion 86 by a bolt B2 that runs along the vertical direction.

[0054] As described above, the motorcycle 1 in the above embodiment includes a head pipe 21a provided at the front end of the vehicle frame 21, a front body cover 16 covering the periphery of the head pipe 21a, and a battery box 60 positioned inside the front body cover 16 in front of the head pipe 21a. The battery 40 is housed in the battery box 60, and a fuse box 50 is positioned outside the battery box 60. The battery box 60 includes a box body 61 that conforms to the outer shape of the battery 40, and an extension 81 that extends from the box body 61 to the outside of the box body 61 in a top view of the vehicle. The fuse box 50 is positioned above the extension 81 and is positioned to overlap with the extension 81 in a top view of the vehicle. With this configuration, the extension portion 81 extending from the box body 61 of the battery box 60 can be used to cover the area below the fuse box 50, thereby protecting the fuse box 50 from water ingress and disturbances from below without increasing the number of parts. The direction in which the extension portion 81 extends is not limited to the outside in the vehicle width direction, but may extend forward or backward depending on the arrangement of the second electrical components. The second electrical components other than the fuse box 50 may be arranged outside the battery box 60.

[0055] In the above-described motorcycle 1, the battery box 60 includes a second support portion 71 that extends from the box body 61 above the extension portion 81 to the outside of the box body 61 in a vehicle plan view and supports the fuse box 50, and a battery retaining band 67 that holds the battery 40 inside the box body 61, and the second support portion 71 includes a member fixing portion (76) that fixes the battery retaining band 67. With this configuration, the battery retaining band 67 can be fixed using the second support portion 71 that supports the fuse box 50, thereby simplifying the structure and reducing the number of parts. It is also possible to have a configuration in which the second electrical component is supported by a separate structure from the battery box 60, without providing the second support portion 71 to the battery box 60.

[0056] In the above-described motorcycle 1, the box body 61 is provided with a pair of left and right side walls 64, 65 that cover the battery 40 from the outside in the vehicle width direction, and the battery 40 can be inserted into and removed from the box body 61 through a box opening 69 formed between the left and right side walls 64, 65, and the second support portion 71 and the extension portion 81 are formed to extend outward in the vehicle width direction from one of the side walls (right side wall portion 65). With this configuration, the second support portion 71 and the extension portion 81 extend outward in the vehicle width direction beyond the box opening 69 between the left and right side walls 64 and 65 of the box body 61. As a result, the second support portion 71 and the extension portion 81, as well as the fuse box 50, do not obstruct the insertion and removal of the battery 40, thus maintaining good maintainability of the battery 40 while protecting the fuse box 50 from water ingress and disturbances from below.

[0057] In the above-described motorcycle 1, the extension portion 81 comprises a plate-like portion 82 having a plate thickness in the vertical direction, and a vertical wall portion 83 extending vertically from the outer edge of the plate-like portion 82. With this configuration, since the plate-like portion 82 is provided with vertical wall portions 83 at the outer edge of its periphery, the vertical wall portions 83 reinforce the extension portion 81, thereby improving the rigidity of the extension portion 81. The vertical wall portions that reinforce the extension portion 81 are not limited to those that rise upward from the front edge, but may also extend downward. In addition to the front edge, they may also be provided at the rear edge, outer edge, inner edge, etc.

[0058] In the above-described motorcycle 1, the vertical wall portion 83 rises upward from the front edge 82b2 of the plate-like portion 82 and is positioned in front of the fuse box 50 in a plan view of the vehicle. With this configuration, the vertical wall portion 83 is positioned in front of the fuse box 50, making it easier to avoid water exposure and disturbances to the fuse box 50. If the extension portion 81 extends outward in the vehicle width direction, the extension portion 81 can be effectively reinforced.

[0059] In the above-described motorcycle 1, the plate-shaped portion 82 comprises a base portion 82a adjacent to the outer side in the vehicle width direction of the right side wall portion 65 of the box body 61, and a main body portion 82b that is connected to the outer side in the vehicle width direction of the base portion 82a, has a shape that extends further rearward than the base portion 82a, and is arranged to overlap with the fuse box 50 in a plan view of the vehicle. A notch portion 84 or an opening is formed in the inner part in the vehicle width direction at the rear of the main body portion 82b. With this configuration, the space can be widened by the notch 84 or opening behind the base 82a of the extension 81 and on the inside in the vehicle width direction at the rear of the main body 82b. Therefore, even when arranging cable-like members such as harnesses inside the front body cover 16 in the aforementioned space, these cable-like members can be easily arranged.

[0060] In the above-described motorcycle 1, the outer edge 82b1 of the extension portion 81 on the outer side in the vehicle width direction is inclined so that it is located further outward in the vehicle width direction towards the rear, the fuse box 50 has an outer shape that is elongated in one direction when viewed from above the vehicle, and the fuse box 50 is positioned so that its longitudinal direction (X direction) when viewed from above the vehicle is aligned with the outer edge 82b1 of the extension portion 81. With this configuration, the outer edge 82b1 of the extension portion 81 on the outer side in the vehicle width direction is inclined so that it is located further outward in the vehicle width direction towards the rear, and the fuse box 50 is positioned so that its longitudinal direction in plan view is parallel to the outer edge 82b1 of the extension portion 81. As a result, even when the fuse box 50 is positioned diagonally to conform to the shape of the front body cover 16, the extension portion 81 makes it easier to cover the fuse box 50 from below. The space on the inner side in the vehicle width direction at the rear of the extension portion 81 and the fuse box 50 is increased, making it easier to use this space as a space for placing components.

[0061] It should be noted that the present invention is not limited to the above embodiments, and for example, the configuration of this embodiment may be applied to saddle-type vehicles other than motorcycles. The saddle-type vehicles include all vehicles on which the driver straddles the vehicle body, and include not only motorcycles (including motorized bicycles and scooter-type vehicles), but also three-wheeled vehicles (including vehicles with one front wheel and two rear wheels, as well as vehicles with two front wheels and one rear wheel) or four-wheeled vehicles (such as four-wheeled buggies). It may also be applied to vehicles that include an electric motor as the power source. Furthermore, the configuration in the above embodiment is just one example of the present invention, and various modifications are possible without departing from the spirit of the invention, such as replacing the components of the embodiment with well-known components. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0062] 1. Motorcycle (saddle-type vehicle) 16. Front body cover (cover for the front of the vehicle) 21 Body frame 21a Headpipe 40 batteries 50 Fuse box (second electrical component) 60 Battery Box 61 Box Body 64 Left side wall 65 Right side wall 71 Second support part 76 Band fastening section (member fixing section) 81 Extension part 82 Plate-like part 82a base 82b Main body 82b1 Outer edge 82b2 Anterior edge 83 Vertical wall section 84 Notch

Claims

1. A head pipe (21a) is provided at the front end of the vehicle frame (21), The vehicle front cover (16) covers the area around the head pipe (21a), The vehicle comprises a battery box (60) located inside the front cover (16) of the vehicle body, on the front side of the head pipe (21a), In a saddle-type vehicle (1) in which a battery (40) is housed in the battery box (60) and a second electrical component (50) is arranged outside the battery box (60), The aforementioned battery box (60) A box body (61) conforming to the external shape of the battery (40), An extension portion (81) extends from the box body (61) to the outside of the box body (61) in a vehicle plan view, The box body (61) extends outward in a top view of the vehicle and includes a second support portion (71) that supports the second electrical component (50), The second electrical component (50) is positioned above the extension (81) and is positioned so as to overlap with the extension (81) in a plan view of the vehicle. The saddle-type vehicle is characterized in that the extension portion (81) is positioned below and separated from the second support portion (71).

2. The aforementioned battery box (60) The box body (61) is equipped with a battery holding member (67) that holds the battery (40), The saddle-type vehicle according to claim 1, characterized in that the second support portion (71) is provided with a member fixing portion (76) for fixing the battery holding member (67).

3. The box body (61) is provided with a pair of left and right side walls (64, 65) that cover the battery (40) from the outside in the vehicle width direction, The box body (61) allows the battery (40) to be inserted into and removed from a box opening (69) formed between a pair of left and right side walls (64, 65). The saddle-type vehicle according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the extension portion (81) is formed extending outward in the vehicle width direction from one of the side wall portions (65).

4. The saddle-type vehicle according to claim 3, characterized in that the extension portion (81) comprises a plate-like portion (82) having a plate thickness in the vertical direction and a vertical wall portion (83) extending vertically from the outer edge of the plate-like portion (82).

5. The saddle-type vehicle according to claim 4, characterized in that the vertical wall portion (83) rises upward from the front edge (82b2) of the plate-like portion (82) and is positioned in front of the second electrical component (50) in a plan view of the vehicle.

6. The plate-like portion (82) is The base portion (82a) adjacent to the outer side in the vehicle width direction of the side wall portion (65) of the box body (61), The vehicle comprises a main body portion (82b) which is connected to the outer side of the base portion (82a) in the vehicle width direction, has a shape that extends further rearward than the base portion (82a), and is arranged to overlap with the second electrical component (50) in a plan view of the vehicle, The saddle-type vehicle according to claim 5, characterized in that a notch (84) or an opening is formed in the rear portion of the main body (82b) on the inner side in the vehicle width direction.

7. The outer edge (82b1) of the extension (81) on the outer side in the vehicle width direction is inclined so that it is located further outward in the vehicle width direction towards the rear. The aforementioned second electrical component (50) has an external shape that is elongated in one direction when viewed from above the vehicle. The saddle-type vehicle according to claim 6, characterized in that the second electrical component (50) is arranged so as to align the longitudinal direction in a plan view of the vehicle with the outer edge (82b1) of the extension (81).

Citation Information

Patent Citations

  • Saddled riding vehicle equipped with storage battery

    CN106005179A

  • Documentation device

    JP1988089966A

  • Motorcycle

    JP2006182269A

  • Battery support structure for vehicle

    JP2008081052A

  • Saddle-riding type vehicle including battery

    JP2016179754A