Saddle-type vehicle

Abstract

To provide a saddle-riding type vehicle which can cool a battery effectively.SOLUTION: A saddle-riding type vehicle includes: a motor M serving as a power source; a battery 52 which drives the motor M; a duct 60 which supplies travel wind to the battery 52; and a rear fender 50 which is disposed above a rear wheel 16 and in which the battery 52 is stored. The rear fender 50 has discharge holes 66, from which the travel wind A supplied by the duct 60 is discharged, behind the battery 52.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

Technical Field

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[0001] This application relates to a saddle-type vehicle including a motor as a power source and a battery for driving the motor.

Background Art

[0002] In a saddle-type vehicle such as a motorcycle, there is one including a motor as a power source of the vehicle and a battery for driving the motor (for example, Patent Document 1). Since such a battery self-heats, cooling is necessary to maintain performance. Cooling of the battery is often performed by air cooling using the traveling wind.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] However, in a saddle-type vehicle such as a motorcycle, since the installation space is limited, the battery may be arranged behind the vehicle body in consideration of other components. In that case, a configuration is required such that the traveling wind hits the battery more easily.

[0005] The disclosure of this application provides a saddle-type vehicle that can effectively cool the battery.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0006] In one embodiment of the present disclosure, the saddle-type vehicle comprises a motor which is a power source, a battery which drives the motor, a duct which supplies airflow to the battery, a battery case which is located above the rear wheels and houses the battery inside, and an exhaust port which is located behind the battery case or the battery case and discharges the airflow supplied by the duct. [Effects of the Invention]

[0007] According to the saddle-type vehicle of this disclosure, airflow from the vehicle flows through a duct and is supplied to the battery inside the battery case. After the airflow supplied to the battery cools the battery, it is discharged from an exhaust port at the rear of the battery. This allows for effective cooling of the battery located at the rear of the vehicle body. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0008] [Figure 1] This is a side view showing a motorcycle, which is a type of saddle-type vehicle according to the first embodiment of this disclosure. [Figure 2] This is a front view of the motorcycle. [Figure 3] This is a rear view of the same motorcycle. [Figure 4] This is a perspective view of the battery of the same motorcycle. [Figure 5] This is a close-up front view of the motorcycle. [Figure 6] This is a horizontal cross-sectional view of the rear fender of the motorcycle. [Figure 7] This is a side view showing a motorcycle, which is a type of saddle-type vehicle according to the second embodiment of this disclosure. [Figure 8] This is a plan view showing the rear of the motorcycle with the seat and rear cowl removed. [Figure 9] This is a rear view showing the rear of the motorcycle. [Figure 10] This is a longitudinal cross-sectional view showing the rear of the motorcycle. [Figure 11] This is a perspective view showing the support structure for the 12V battery of the motorcycle. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0009] Preferred embodiments of this disclosure will be described below with reference to the drawings. Figure 1 is a side view showing the front of a motorcycle, which is a type of saddle-type vehicle according to the first embodiment of this disclosure. In this specification, "right" and "left" refer to the "right" and "left" as seen from the perspective of the driver riding in the vehicle. Also, "front" and "rear" refer to the "front" and "rear" in the direction of travel of the vehicle.

[0010] The motorcycle of this embodiment is a hybrid vehicle having an engine E as a first power source for driving and a driving motor M as a second power source for driving. In other words, the motorcycle of this embodiment can be driven using only the engine E, which is an internal combustion engine, only the motor M, which is an electric motor, or using both the engine E and the motor M simultaneously, depending on the driving conditions.

[0011] The motorcycle's chassis frame FR consists of a main frame 1, which forms the front half, and a rear frame 2, which forms the rear half. The main frame 1 extends diagonally downward and rearward from the head pipe 4 at the front end, then curves downward and extends vertically. The rear frame 2 extends rearward from the main frame 1.

[0012] The front fork 6 is supported by the head pipe 4. The front wheel 8 is supported by the lower end of the front fork 6, and the handlebars 10 are attached to the upper end of the front fork 6.

[0013] A swingarm bracket 12 is provided at the rear end of the main frame 1. The swingarm 14 is supported by the swingarm bracket 12 so as to be able to swing up and down around a pivot axis 13. The rear wheel 16 is attached to the rear end of the swingarm 14.

[0014] An engine E is disposed below the main frame 1 between the front and rear wheels 8 and 16, and is supported by a vehicle body frame FR. The power of the engine E is transmitted to the rear wheel 16 via a power transmission member 18, and the rear wheel 16 is driven. The power transmission member 18 is, for example, a drive chain. However, the power transmission member 18 is not limited to a drive chain.

[0015] The engine E has a crankshaft 20 extending in the vehicle width direction, a crankcase 22 that rotatably supports the crankshaft 20, a cylinder 23 protruding upward from the crankcase 22, and a cylinder head 24 above it. In the present embodiment, the axis AX of the cylinder 23 is inclined forward upward. Above the crankcase 22, the motor M is disposed.

[0016] The motor M is disposed behind the cylinder 23. The motor M is disposed inside the outer end of the cylinder 23 in the vehicle width direction. Specifically, the right end face of the motor case is disposed inside the right end face of the cylinder 23 in the vehicle width direction. By transmitting the motor power to the input shaft on the downstream side of the clutch, the motor power is transmitted as a running driving force. By disconnecting the clutch, running by the motor alone is possible. By connecting the clutch, running using both the motor and the engine is possible. By connecting the clutch and stopping the motor power, engine running is possible.

[0017] On one side in the axial direction of the crankshaft 20, in the present embodiment, on the left side, a generator 26 shown in FIG. 2 is provided. The generator 26 generates electricity by the power of the engine E, that is, by the rotation of the crankshaft 20. A generator cover 28 is detachably attached to the left side surface of the crankcase 22. The generator cover 28 covers the generator 26 and the crankshaft 20 from the outside in the vehicle width direction. That is, the generator cover 28 is attached to the crankcase 22 and constitutes a cover body that covers the end face of the crankshaft 20 from the vehicle width direction.

[0018] A clutch cover 30 is detachably attached to the right side of the crankcase 22 shown in Figure 1. The clutch cover 30 covers the crankshaft 20 and the clutch 32 connected to it from the outside in the vehicle width direction. In other words, the clutch cover 30 is attached to the crankcase 22 and constitutes a cover body that covers the end face of the crankshaft 20 from the vehicle width direction.

[0019] An exhaust pipe 34 is connected to the exhaust port 24a on the front of the cylinder head 24. The exhaust pipe 34 extends rearward along the bottom of the engine E and is connected to an exhaust muffler 36 on the right side of the rear wheel 16. The exhaust muffler 36 silences the exhaust from the exhaust pipe 34 and discharges it to the outside.

[0020] A radiator 40 is positioned above and in front of the engine E. The radiator 40 dissipates heat from the engine E's coolant using the airflow. In this embodiment, the radiator 40 is positioned approximately parallel to the axis AX of the cylinder 23 in a side view, with its lower half positioned in front of the cylinder head 24 and its upper half positioned above and in front of the cylinder head 24.

[0021] A fuel tank 42 is positioned on top of the main frame 1, and a seat 44 on which the pilot sits is mounted on the rear frame 2. The fuel tank 42 is located directly above the engine E, behind the head pipe 4, and in front of the seat 44.

[0022] A resin cowling 46, indicated by a dashed line, is provided on the front half of the vehicle body. In this embodiment, the cowling 46 covers the area from the front of the head pipe 4 to the side of the engine E. A headlamp 45 is mounted on the cowling 46. A pair of resin rear cowls 47 are provided behind the cowling 46. The rear cowls 47, indicated by a solid line, cover the gap between the seat 44 and the rear frame 2 from the outside.

[0023] Below the fuel tank 42, a pair of left and right knee grip portions 48, indicated by a dashed line, are provided. In this embodiment, the knee grip portions 48 are realized by a knee grip cover. The knee grip cover 48 covers the area in front of and below the seat 44 from the outside. As shown in Figure 2, the knee grip cover 48 has a recess 48a formed inward in the vehicle width direction from the remaining portion of the knee grip cover 48. This recess 48a constitutes the knee grip portion that is gripped by the driver's knees when driving. The knee grip portions 48a cover the area from the rear to the lower central part of the fuel tank 42 shown in Figure 1 from the outside.

[0024] The knee grip portion 48a is located in front of the straight line connecting the rider step 49 and the front end of the seat 44, and is positioned on the lower part of the side wall of the fuel tank 42. The knee grip portion 48a is located, for example, above the engine E. In this embodiment, it is formed in a region above the driving motor M and the cylinder head 24. The knee grip portion 48 may be formed in a region extending from the boundary between the seat 44 and the fuel tank 42 to an intermediate position in the front-rear direction of the fuel tank 42.

[0025] As shown in Figure 1, a rear fender 50 is provided below the rear cowl 47 and above the rear wheel 16. The rear fender 50 has a wall to prevent mud and water splashed up by the rear wheel 16 from entering the vehicle body. The rear fender 50 has side walls and a bottom wall. In other words, the rear fender 50 has a U-shaped cross-section perpendicular to the front-rear direction. The rear fender 50 is made of resin, for example. A storage space S (Figure 6) is formed inside the rear fender 50, and the battery 52 is housed in this storage space. In other words, the rear fender 50 constitutes a battery case for housing the battery 52.

[0026] The storage space S in which the battery 52 is housed is located below the driver's seat 44. Furthermore, the storage space S is located behind the engine E. The storage space S is located between the left and right rear frames 2,2. Specifically, the rear area of ​​the storage space S is located behind the rear end of the driver's seat. The front end of the storage space S is located in front of the front end of the rear wheel 16 and behind the pivot axis 13. The storage space S is located below the bottom surface of the fuel tank 42.

[0027] The output of the generator 26 (Figure 2) is supplied to the battery 52, which is then charged. The power charged in the battery 52 is supplied to the ISG motor G (Integrated Starter Generator Motor), which also functions as the generator 26, to drive the ISG motor G. The battery 52 is capable of outputting a high current in order to provide the output necessary for driving. In this embodiment, a structure is employed to suppress the temperature rise of the battery 52 in order to maximize the capacity of the battery 52. ​​Specifically, this embodiment has a structure that guides airflow to the battery 52. ​​The battery 52 in this embodiment is a 48V lithium-ion battery. However, the battery 52 is not limited to this.

[0028] As shown in Figure 4, the battery 52 of this embodiment has multiple cells housed inside a box-shaped casing 54. The casing 54 is made of metal, for example, an aluminum alloy. However, the material of the casing 54 is not limited to this.

[0029] Cooling fins 56 are formed on the outer surface of the housing 54. The cooling fins 56 are protrusions provided to increase the surface area and improve heat exchange efficiency. In this embodiment, cooling fins 56 are formed on both sides 54s, 54s, the front 54f, and the rear 54r of the housing 54. The cooling fins 56 on both sides 54s, 54s extend in the front-rear direction. The cooling fins 56 on the front and rear extend in the vehicle width direction (left-right direction).

[0030] As shown in Figure 3, the battery 52 is raised by the left and right rubbers 55, and an airflow space is formed between the lower surface 54d of the housing 54 and the upper surface 50a of the rear fender 50. Therefore, cooling fins 56 may be provided on the lower surface 54d of the housing 54. If an airflow space can be secured above the housing 54, cooling fins 56 may be provided on the upper surface of the housing 54.

[0031] As shown in Figure 1, the motorcycle of this embodiment has a duct 60 that directs airflow to the battery 52. ​​The duct 60 is made of, for example, resin. However, the material of the duct 60 is not limited to this. The duct 60 may be composed of a single component or of a combination of multiple components.

[0032] In this embodiment, the duct 60 is positioned offset from the center in the width direction of the vehicle and located on the outside in the width direction of the vehicle body. In this embodiment, the duct 60 is located on the right side of the vehicle body. In this embodiment, the duct 60 is provided only on the right side on the outside of the vehicle body, but as shown by the dashed line in Figure 2, the duct 60 may also be provided on the left side of the vehicle body. Providing the duct 60 on both sides in the width direction of the vehicle body makes it easier to supply airflow evenly to the left and right sides of the battery 52.

[0033] The inlet of the duct 60 is located in front of the front end of the engine. The outlet of the duct 60 communicates with the front region of the housing space S of the battery case 50. In other words, the duct 60 extends in the longitudinal direction from the front of the engine E to the rear of the engine E. In a side view of the vehicle body, in the region where the duct 60 overlaps with the engine E, it is located outside in the vehicle width direction of the outer surface of the engine E in the vehicle width direction. In a side view of the vehicle body, the duct 60 passes in the longitudinal direction at a position overlapping with the cylinder 23 of the engine E and passes above the top surface of the crankcase 22. The duct 60 passes between the motor M and the swing arm 12 and extends inward in a curved manner towards the frame. The outlet of the duct 60 is located between the battery 52 and the front end of the battery case 50 in the longitudinal direction and opens rearward.

[0034] As in this embodiment, providing the duct 60 on only one side in the width direction of the vehicle body reduces manufacturing costs and assembly man-hours. When providing the duct 60 on one side in the width direction of the vehicle body, it may be placed on the right side of the vehicle body as in this embodiment, or on the left side of the vehicle body as shown by the dashed line. Since the widthwise center of the engine E is slightly offset to the left of the widthwise center of the vehicle body, placing the duct 60 on the right side of the vehicle body makes it easier to reduce the widthwise dimensions of the vehicle body. On the other hand, since the exhaust muffler 36 is located on the right side of the vehicle body, placing the duct 60 on the left side of the vehicle body makes it easier to reduce the heat influence of the exhaust muffler 36 and exhaust pipe 34 on the duct 60.

[0035] Furthermore, if interference with other parts can be avoided, the duct 60 may be positioned on the centerline extending in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle body. Specifically, an inlet may be provided at the front end of the cowling 46 as shown in Figure 1, passing over the engine E and motor M, with the outlet opening into the internal space of the rear fender 50. In this case, since the duct 60 does not curve in the vehicle width direction, air flows smoothly through the duct 60 and can be directed evenly to both the left and right sides of the battery 52. ​​Moreover, since the inlet is located at a high position, water ingress can be avoided.

[0036] When the duct 60 is installed on the outside of the vehicle body as in this embodiment, it is preferable to install the duct 60 as far outward as possible for air intake. However, if the position of the duct 60 is too far outward, the vehicle width dimension will increase. In this embodiment, as shown in Figure 2, the outer end of the duct 60 in the vehicle width direction is located inside the outermost part of the vehicle in the vehicle width direction. This prevents the duct 60 from contacting the ground when the vehicle body is banked. The duct 60 is formed in a flattened shape, with its vertical dimension being larger than its width dimension. This makes it possible to increase the airflow while preventing an increase in the vehicle width dimension.

[0037] Furthermore, the duct 60 is positioned below the knee grip portion 48a. For example, in a side view of the vehicle body, it is formed in a shape that curves inward from the front of the triangular region connecting the front end of the seat 44, the rear end of the seat 44, and the step 49. More specifically, it is positioned inward in the vehicle width direction from the frame portion that extends vertically from near the front end of the seat 44 toward the swing arm 12.

[0038] Furthermore, as shown in Figure 1, the duct 60 extends rearward in the vertical direction between the clutch cover 30 and the cylinder head 24. More specifically, the duct 60 extends rearward between the outer end of the clutch cover 30 in the vehicle width direction and the outer end of the cylinder 23 in the vehicle width direction. In other words, the duct 60 extends on the outer side in the vehicle width direction of the outer surface of the cylinder 23 in the vehicle width direction, on the inner side in the vehicle width direction of the outer surface of the clutch cover 30 in the vehicle width direction, and above the upper surface of the clutch cover 30.

[0039] In this embodiment, the inlet 62 at the front end of the duct 60 is positioned in front of the engine E in a side view. However, the inlet 62 of the duct 60 may be positioned so as to overlap with the engine E in a side view. The inlet 62 of the duct 60 is positioned below the radiator 40. This prevents the duct 60 from obstructing the airflow towards the radiator 40.

[0040] The inlet 62 of the duct 60, that is, the front end of the duct 60, is formed in a funnel shape. Furthermore, the outlet 64 of the duct 60 may be formed to be abruptly smaller in the vertical dimension compared to the remaining nozzle portion in order to increase the airflow velocity of the air blown toward the battery 52. ​​In other words, the opening area of ​​the inlet 62 is larger than the passage area behind it. By increasing the opening area of ​​the inlet 62 in this way, the amount of air taken in from the inlet 62 can be increased.

[0041] Furthermore, the inlet 62 extends in a forward sloping manner from its upper end to its lower end. In other words, the lower front end of the inlet 62 is located further forward than the upper front end. This allows the orientation of the duct inlet to be offset from the tangential direction of the front wheel 8, preventing water splashed from the road surface from entering the inlet 62.

[0042] As shown in Figure 2, at least a portion of the inlet 62 of the duct 60 is located outside the front wheel 8 in the vehicle width direction when viewed from the front. In this embodiment, the entire inlet 62 of the duct 60 is located outside the front wheel 8 in the vehicle width direction when viewed from the front. This prevents mud and water splashed up by the front wheel 8 from entering through the inlet 62. Drainage holes may be provided in the duct 60.

[0043] Figure 5 is an enlarged view of the duct 60. As shown in the figure, the inlet 62 of the duct 60 decreases in width from the top to the bottom when viewed from the front. This prevents the outer surface of the duct 60 from interfering with the ground when the vehicle is banked, while ensuring sufficient airflow.

[0044] In detail, a guide cover 60a is provided separately from the duct 60, at the front end of the duct 60. The guide cover 60a is formed in a funnel shape that widens towards the front in the vehicle width direction. When viewed from the front of the vehicle, the inner surface of the guide cover 60a in the vehicle width direction is positioned further inward in the vehicle width direction than the inner surface of the duct 60 in the vehicle width direction. This makes it possible to increase the amount of airflow while preventing an increase in the vehicle width dimension.

[0045] The outlet 64 at the rear end of the duct 60 shown in Figure 1 opens into the storage space S in the rear fender 50. More specifically, the outlet 64 opens in front of the battery 52 inside the rear fender 50. In this embodiment, the opening area of ​​the inlet 62 of the duct 60 is larger than the opening area of ​​the outlet 64 of the duct 60. More specifically, the opening area of ​​the duct 60 decreases from the inlet 62 to the outlet 64. By increasing the opening area of ​​the inlet 62, the amount of air taken into the duct 60 can be increased. Also, because the opening area of ​​the outlet 64 is small, the flow velocity of the air increases as it flows through the duct 60. The increased flow velocity makes it easier for the air to flow along the cooling fins 56 of the battery 52, improving the cooling efficiency.

[0046] As shown in Figure 3, exhaust holes 66 are formed in the rear fender 50 in the portion behind the battery 52. ​​The exhaust holes 66 expel the airflow supplied into the rear fender 50 by the duct 60 to the rear. In this embodiment, the exhaust holes 66 are provided in four locations on the rear wall of the rear fender 50: the upper right, lower right, upper left, and lower left. Specifically, a pair of left and right exhaust holes 66 are formed facing each other in the area between the battery 52 and the battery case 50 in the vehicle width direction. A portion of the exhaust holes 66 are located outside the outer edge in the vehicle width direction of the rear wheel 16 when viewed from the rear. However, the number and arrangement of the exhaust holes 66 are not limited to this.

[0047] As shown in Figure 6, a louver structure 69 is provided in the discharge hole 66. More specifically, a rib 68 is formed on the rear wall of the rear fender 50. The rib 68 extends forward from the edge of the discharge hole 66 toward the discharge hole 66, sloping forward. In other words, the rib 68 extends in a manner that blocks the discharge hole 66 when viewed from the rear. This prevents rainwater splashed up from the rear wheel 16 or washing water W during washing from directly heading toward the battery 52. ​​In other words, the rib 68 constitutes a baffle plate that prevents foreign matter from entering through the discharge hole 66. The louver structure 69 does not need to be a structure that can prevent high-pressure fluid W from directly heading toward the battery 52, and is not limited to the structure of this embodiment.

[0048] Next, the operation of this embodiment will be explained. When the motorcycle in Figure 1 is running, the airflow A is drawn into the duct 60 from the inlet 62. The airflow A drawn into the duct 60 flows through the duct 60 and is introduced into the rear fender 50 from the outlet 64. The airflow A introduced into the rear fender 50 cools the battery 52 and is then discharged to the outside from the discharge hole 66.

[0049] More specifically, as shown in Figure 6, a portion of the airflow A introduced into the rear fender 50 from the outlet 64 of the duct 60 flows in the vehicle width direction along the front 54f of the battery 52, then flows in the longitudinal direction along the left side 54s of the battery 52, wraps around to the rear 54r of the battery 52, and is discharged from the discharge hole 66. In addition, a portion of the airflow A flows in the longitudinal direction along the right side 54s of the battery 52, then flows in the longitudinal direction along the rear 54s of the battery 52, wraps around to the rear 54r of the battery 52, and is discharged from the discharge hole 66.

[0050] Furthermore, a portion of the airflow A flows in the front-rear direction along the lower surface 54d of the battery 52 shown in Figure 3, then wraps around to the rear surface 54r of the battery 52 shown in Figure 6 and is discharged from the discharge hole 66. Thus, in this embodiment, the airflow flows along the front surface 54f, both sides 54s, 54s, the lower surface 54d, and the rear surface 54r of the battery 52. ​​Since cooling fins 56 are formed on the front surface 54f, the sides 54s, and the rear surface 54r, the airflow A flows along the cooling fins 56. This allows the battery 52, located at the rear of the vehicle body, to be effectively cooled by the airflow A.

[0051] Lithium-ion batteries generate heat during discharge. When the cell temperature reaches the upper limit, discharge is stopped to protect the battery. In this embodiment, efficient cooling of the battery 52 can be achieved by the airflow while driving, thereby suppressing the rise in battery temperature. This prevents the temperature from reaching the upper limit and extends the discharge period. In addition, in a hybrid vehicle like this embodiment, heat is generated when switching between driving with the engine E and driving with the motor M in Figure 1, especially during driving where the discharge current is high. Therefore, the demand for cooling the battery 52 is high while driving. In this embodiment, by using the airflow A while driving to cool the battery 52, effective battery cooling is achieved with a simple structure.

[0052] As shown in Figure 2, the inlet 62 of the duct 60 is located outside the width of the vehicle in a front view, relative to the front wheel 8. This allows the airflow A to be taken into the duct 60 while suppressing the influence of the front wheel 8. This increases the amount of airflow A taken into the duct 60. It also prevents mud and water splashed up by the front wheel 8 from entering the duct 60.

[0053] As shown in Figure 1, the inlet 62 of the duct 60 is positioned in front of the engine E in a side view. This allows the airflow A to be drawn into the duct 60 before it hits the engine E. As a result, the amount of airflow A drawn into the duct 60 can be increased.

[0054] As shown in Figure 5, the inlet 62 of the duct 60 may have a vehicle width dimension that decreases from the top end to the bottom end when viewed from the front. This prevents the outer surface of the duct 60 from interfering with the ground when the vehicle is banked, while increasing the opening area of ​​the inlet 62 to ensure sufficient intake of airflow A.

[0055] As shown in Figure 6, a louver structure 69 is provided in the exhaust port 66. This prevents rainwater and washing water W from directly flowing from the exhaust port 66 to the battery 52. ​​Therefore, it is possible to prevent rainwater and washing water W from hitting the battery 52 while ensuring the airflow A during driving.

[0056] As shown in Figure 2, the duct 60 is positioned on the outside in the width direction of the vehicle body, and is positioned below the knee grip portion 48a. This prevents the duct 60 from interfering with the driver's legs.

[0057] As shown in Figure 1, the duct 60 extends rearward in the vertical direction through the region between the clutch cover 30 and the cylinder head 24. In this region, the outer end of the duct 60 in the vehicle width direction is located inward in the vehicle width direction than the outer end of the cover body 30 in the vehicle width direction. This prevents the duct 60 from increasing the width dimension of the vehicle body. The duct 60 may be located above the cylinder 23 and positioned to pass outside the cylinder head 24.

[0058] The opening area of ​​the inlet 62 of duct 60 is larger than the opening area of ​​the outlet 64 of duct 60. This increases the velocity of the airflow A through duct 60. As a result, the airflow A flows vigorously along the cooling fins 56 (Figure 4) of the battery 52, improving cooling efficiency.

[0059] By positioning the duct 60 inward in the vehicle width direction compared to the cover body 30, the cover body 30 is more likely to collide with the road surface or other objects before the duct 60 collides with the road surface or other objects in the event of a rollover, thus preventing damage to the duct 60.

[0060] The battery 52 is positioned with a vertical gap between its underside and the upper surface of the rear fender 50. This prevents water droplets from adhering to the battery 52 even if condensation or rainwater enters the storage space S during car washing. A drain hole may also be provided in the storage space S. This allows rainwater that has entered the storage space S to be discharged to the outside of the storage space S.

[0061] In this embodiment, the airflow A passes along the front-rear direction in which the cooling fins 56 extend, thereby increasing the amount of airflow A that comes into contact with the cooling fins 56 and suppressing turbulence in the airflow A, thereby reducing flow resistance.

[0062] In this embodiment, the storage space S is located below the fuel tank 42. By positioning the storage space S lower, the vertical distance between the battery 52 and the inlet 62 of the duct 60 can be reduced, allowing the duct 60 to be shortened. Furthermore, the outlet 64 of the duct 60 faces the space between the battery 52 and the battery case 52, allowing the airflow A to be smoothly guided to the cooling fins 56.

[0063] In this disclosure, as described above, at least a portion of the inlet at the front end of the duct may be located outside the vehicle width direction of the front wheels when viewed from the front. With this configuration, airflow flowing towards the rear can be taken into the duct without colliding with the front wheels. This increases the amount of airflow taken into the duct. In addition, it is possible to suppress the entry of mud and water splashed up by the front wheels into the duct.

[0064] The inlet of the duct may be positioned in front of the engine when viewed from the side. This configuration allows airflow to be drawn into the duct before it hits the engine. This increases the amount of airflow drawn into the duct and reduces the effects of engine heat.

[0065] The inlet at the front end of the duct may have a width-direction dimension that increases from the lower end to the upper end when viewed from the front. This configuration makes it possible to suppress the amount of outward protrusion of the lower end of the duct in the width-direction. This prevents the duct from interfering with the ground when the vehicle is banked, while ensuring sufficient air intake.

[0066] The rear fender may have a baffle plate to prevent foreign matter from entering through the exhaust port. This configuration prevents rainwater or washing water from directly flowing from the exhaust port to the battery. This ensures airflow while driving, while preventing the battery from being affected by fluids.

[0067] The duct may be positioned on the outside in the width direction of the vehicle body, and may also be positioned below the knee grip area on the side of the vehicle body. This configuration prevents the duct from interfering with the driver's legs.

[0068] The saddle-type vehicle further includes an engine, which is a power source for driving, positioned in front of the battery and between the front and rear wheels, and a cover body that protrudes from the engine in one direction in the vehicle width direction and covers the end face of the crankshaft, which is located at the bottom of the engine, from the outside in the vehicle width direction, and a part of the duct may extend rearward between the outer end of the cover body in the vehicle width direction and the outer end of the engine in the vehicle width direction. With this configuration, it is possible to suppress an increase in the width dimension of the vehicle body due to the duct.

[0069] The opening area at the front end of the duct may be larger than the opening area of ​​the region of the duct facing the battery. With this configuration, the speed of the airflow through the duct increases. As a result, the airflow flows quickly and efficiently along the battery, improving cooling efficiency.

[0070] In this embodiment, the rear surface of the battery case 50 functions as the outer surface of the vehicle body facing the rear. Therefore, the air discharged from the exhaust port formed in the battery case 50 is discharged to the outside of the vehicle body. The battery case 50 is a component that defines the storage space in which the battery 52 is housed. Therefore, the battery case 50 may be configured as a battery case including a battery case body that mainly houses the battery 52 and a plurality of components arranged around the battery case body that define the battery storage space.

[0071] Figures 7-12 show a second embodiment of the present disclosure. In the following description of the second embodiment, components identical to those in the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals, and detailed descriptions are omitted.

[0072] In the first embodiment described above, the discharge hole 66 was located on the rear surface of the battery case body, but in the second embodiment, the discharge hole 66A is located behind the battery case 50. Specifically, the battery case 50 consists of the battery case body 51, the rear fender rear 55, and the rear cover 70. The discharge hole 66A is located at the rear end of the rear cover 70, which is part of the battery case 50. The discharge hole 66A formed in the rear cover 70 is positioned at a rearward distance from the rear surface of the battery 52. ​​In this embodiment, the discharge hole 66A is located above the rear wheel 16 and behind the upper end of the rear wheel 16. Also, the discharge hole 66A is located above the upper end of the battery 52. ​​This will be explained in detail below.

[0073] As shown in Figure 7, in the second embodiment, a pair of left and right rear covers 70 are attached to the rear of the vehicle body, covering the rear of the vehicle body from the outside in the width direction. The rear covers 70 cover the rear frame 2 that supports the seat 44 from the outside in the width direction. In this embodiment, the rear covers 70 cover the rear fender front 51, rear fender rear 55, and a part of the rear cowl 47 from the outside, from the area below the seat 44. In other words, the rear covers 70 constitute a cover that covers at least a part of the rear surface of the rear fender front 51, which is the battery case body. As mentioned above, an exhaust hole 66A is located at the rear end of this rear cover 70. The rear fender rear 55 is located behind the rear fender front 51 and covers the rear frame 2 from below. The rear end surface of the rear cover 70 is located above and behind the battery 52. ​​The rear end wall of the rear cover 70 functions as an outer shell that separates the rear space of the vehicle body from the interior space of the vehicle body.

[0074] As shown in Figure 8, the rear end of the duct 60 faces the front end of the rear fender front 51, that is, they are opposite each other in the front-rear direction, and the rear end of the duct 60 and the front end of the rear fender front 51 are covered from the outside in the vehicle width direction by the rear cover 70. As a result, the airflow drawn out from the rear end of the duct 60 is guided to the inner surface of the rear cover 70 and introduced into the internal space of the rear fender front 51.

[0075] The rear fender front 51 and rear fender rear 55 form a wall that separates the vehicle body from the space below. The rear fender front 51 forms an area that covers most of the battery 52, and the rear fender rear 55 forms an area that covers the rear of the battery 52. ​​The rear of the rear fender front 51 and the front of the rear fender rear 55 are arranged to overlap in the front-to-rear direction.

[0076] Furthermore, the rear of the rear fender front 51 faces the inlet 72a of an air passage 72 formed inside the rear fender rear 55. The inlet 72a faces the rear surface and rear side of the battery 52. ​​The rear fender front 51 is covered from the outside in the vehicle width direction by the rear cover 70, spaced apart in the vehicle width direction. The rear fender rear 55 is covered from the outside in the vehicle width direction by the rear cover 70. In detail, the inlet 72a of the rear fender rear 55 is located at the rear of the rear fender front 51, on the outside in the vehicle width direction and at the rear end.

[0077] As shown in Figure 7, the rear side wall 74a of the rear fender front 51 is set lower than the remaining side wall 74b. The lower portion of the side wall 74a at the rear of the rear fender front 51 faces the inlet 72a of the air passage 72 of the rear fender rear 55. As a result, as shown in Figure 8, the airflow A drawn out from the rear of the rear fender front 51 is introduced into the air passage inside the rear fender rear 55. The rear surface of the rear fender rear 55 is covered by the rear cover 70, and the outlet 72b of the rear fender rear 55 is positioned to face the exhaust hole 66A of the rear cover 70.

[0078] In this embodiment, the air passages 72 of the rear fender rear 55 are located on both the left and right sides of the rear fender front 51. However, the air passages 72 of the rear fender rear 55 may be located on only one side of the rear fender front 51. The outlets 72b of each air passage 72 communicate with the discharge holes 66A at the rear end of the rear cover 70. In other words, in this embodiment, the discharge holes 66A are also located on both the left and right sides of the rear fender front 51. In detail, as shown in Figure 9, the left and right discharge holes 66A are located outward in the vehicle width direction, spaced apart from the rear wheels 16 in the vehicle width direction. This prevents mud splashed up by the rear wheels 16 from heading towards the discharge holes 66A.

[0079] As described above, the rear cover 70 of this embodiment covers the rear end of the duct 60 and the front end of the rear fender front 51 from the outside in the vehicle width direction, extends rearward from there to cover the rear of the rear fender front 51 and the inlet 72a of the air passage 72 of the rear fender rear 55 from the outside in the vehicle width direction, and extends further rearward to the rear of the outlet 72b of the air passage 72 of the rear fender rear 55.

[0080] In the second embodiment, as in the first embodiment, a baffle plate 75 is provided to block the entry of foreign matter from the discharge hole 66A shown in Figure 9. The baffle plate 75 is provided at both the left and right discharge holes 66A. In Figure 9, the baffle plate 75 is shown only at the left discharge hole 66A, and the right side is not shown. The baffle plate 75 in the second embodiment has a louver structure 80 that blocks the flow in the direction from the discharge hole 66A toward the battery 52. ​​In this embodiment, the louver structure 80 is provided at the rear fender rear 55. More specifically, the louver structure 80 is provided at the outlet 72b of the air passage 72 of the rear fender rear 55. However, the arrangement of the baffle plate 75 is not limited to this, and it may be provided at the rear cover 70 or the rear fender front 51. Also, the baffle plate 75 may be provided separately from the cover or fender member.

[0081] As shown in Figure 10, the louver structure 80 has multiple louvers 82 positioned at the outlet 72b of the air passage 72 of the rear fender rear 55. Each louver 82 is positioned so that cleaning water W1 directed towards the battery 52 cannot pass through, but cleaning water W2 not directed towards the battery 52 can pass through. Generally, the battery 52, which is made of lithium-ion batteries, can tolerate submersion but cannot be exposed to high-pressure cleaning water. The louver structure protects the battery 52 from high-pressure cleaning water.

[0082] The louver structure 80 has plate-like portions 83 having a width extending in the front-to-back direction, which are arranged in the vertical or left-to-right direction. In this embodiment, multiple plate-like portions 83 are arranged in the vertical direction. It also has connecting portions 84 that connect the vertically separated plate-like portions 83. Each connecting portion 84 is arranged in a single row in the vertical direction. Multiple connecting portions 84 are also arranged with spacing in the left-to-right direction. Thus, in this embodiment, the louver structure 80 is formed as a grid structure in which the discharge hole 66A is divided into multiple openings.

[0083] Specifically, the plate-shaped portion of the louver structure 80 extends in a direction intersecting a virtual straight line that extends inward in the vehicle width direction from the discharge hole 66A toward the front. The direction in which this virtual straight line extends corresponds to the direction toward the battery 52 from the discharge hole 66A. In this embodiment, for example, the plate-shaped portion extends parallel to the front-rear direction, thereby extending in a direction intersecting the virtual straight line. The width dimension of the plate-shaped portion and the vertical spacing between adjacent portions are set such that, when the discharge hole 66A is viewed from the direction of the virtual straight line, it appears to be blocked by multiple plate-shaped portions. Even in this case, when the discharge hole 66A is viewed in the front-rear direction, multiple openings are formed to allow visibility into the inside of the cover. This ensures air discharge while preventing high-pressure water from flowing toward the battery 52.

[0084] As shown in Figure 8, a control battery 85 is located behind the battery 52. ​​The control battery 85 is a low-voltage battery such as 12V or 24V. A first cross member 86 and a second cross member 88, extending in the vehicle width direction, are stretched across the left and right rear frames 2, with the first cross member 86 facing forward. The control battery 85 is located between the first cross member 86 and the second cross member 88.

[0085] As shown in Figure 11, the control battery 85 is supported by the first and second cross members 86 and 88 via a bracket 90. The bracket 90 is formed by bending a plate material with its longitudinal direction in the front-rear direction, with its front end 90a bolted to the first cross member 86 and its rear end 90b locked to the second cross member 88. The bracket 90 is also bolted to the upper surface of the control battery 85 at its midpoint in the front-rear direction.

[0086] In detail, the second cross member 88 has a rectangular through hole 88a oriented in the vertical direction. The bracket 90 has a rising portion 92 that rises upward from near the rear end of the control battery 85, a horizontal portion 94 that extends rearward from the upper end of the rising portion 92, and a locking portion 96 that extends downward from the rear end of the horizontal portion 94.

[0087] The upper end of the rising portion 92 is located above the upper surface of the second cross member 88, and the horizontal portion 94 extends in the front-rear direction from the front edge of the second cross member 88 to the through hole 88a above the second cross member 88. The locking portion 96 extends through the through hole 88a of the second cross member 88. The locking portion 96 has an inclined portion 96a at its lower end that slopes downward and backward. This inclined portion 96a locks into the through hole 88a, preventing the rear end portion 90b of the bracket 90 from coming out upward from the through hole 88a of the second cross member 88. In this way, supporting one end of the bracket 90 to the vehicle frame FR with a locking structure makes the installation work easier compared to bolting both ends together.

[0088] The second embodiment also achieves the same effects as the first embodiment described above. Furthermore, according to the second embodiment, the air passage is composed of multiple parts, including the duct 60, the rear fender front 51, the rear fender rear 55, and the rear cover 70. This improves the freedom of arrangement and shape of the air passage, including the exhaust hole 66A in Figure 10.

[0089] A larger opening area of ​​the discharge hole 66A is advantageous for airflow while driving, but disadvantageous for preventing the ingress of high-pressure water. Therefore, it is necessary to determine the size of the opening by considering the balance between the two. According to the second embodiment, since a louver structure 80 is arranged in the discharge hole 66A, it is possible to increase the opening area of ​​the discharge hole 66A to ensure airflow while driving, while preventing high-pressure water from heading towards the battery 52.

[0090] This disclosure includes the following aspects 1 to 11. [Aspect 1] The saddle-type vehicle according to Embodiment 1 includes a motor M which is a power source, a battery 52 which drives the motor M, a duct 60 which supplies airflow to the battery 52, a battery case 50 which is located above the rear wheels 16 and houses the battery 52 inside, and exhaust holes 66, 66A located in the battery case 50 through which the airflow supplied by the duct 60 is discharged. [Aspect 2] A saddle-type vehicle according to Embodiment 1, wherein at least a portion of the inlet 62 at the front end of the duct 60 is located outward in the vehicle width direction from the front wheel 8 when viewed from the front. [Aspect 3] In the saddle-type vehicle described in embodiment 1 or 2, the inlet 62 at the front end of the duct 60 has a widthwise dimension that increases from the lower end to the upper end when viewed from the front. [Aspect 4] A saddle-type vehicle according to any one of embodiments 1 to 3, further comprising baffle plates 68, 75 that block the entry of foreign matter from the discharge holes 66, 66A. [Aspect 5] In the saddle-type vehicle described in Embodiment 4, the baffle plate 75 has a louver structure 80 that blocks the flow from the discharge hole 66A toward the battery 52. [Aspect 6] In the saddle-type vehicle described in any one of the embodiments 1 to 5, the duct 60 is arranged on the outside in the width direction of the vehicle body, A saddle-type vehicle in which the duct 60 is located below the knee grip portion 48a on the side of the vehicle body. [Claim 7] In the saddle-type vehicle described in any one of the embodiments 1 to 6, further, an engine which is a driving power source is located in front of the battery 52 and between the front and rear wheels 8, 16, The engine includes a cover body 30 that protrudes from the engine in one direction in the vehicle width direction and covers the end face of the crankshaft 20 located at the bottom of the engine from the outside in the vehicle width direction, A portion of the duct 60 extends rearward between the outer end of the cover body 30 in the vehicle width direction and the outer end of the engine in the vehicle width direction in a saddle-type vehicle. [Aspect 8] In the saddle-type vehicle described in Embodiment 7, the inlet 62 of the duct 60 is located in front of the engine E in a side view. [Aspect 9] A saddle-type vehicle according to any one of embodiments 1 to 8, wherein the opening area of ​​the front end of the duct 60 is larger than the opening area of ​​the region of the duct 60 facing the battery 52. [Aspect 10] A saddle-type vehicle according to embodiment 9 or 10, further comprising a cover 70 that covers at least a portion of the rear surface of the battery case 50. [Aspect 11] The saddle-type vehicle according to embodiment 11 includes a motor M which is a power source, a battery 52 which drives the motor M, a duct 60 which supplies running air to the battery 52, an exhaust port 66A located behind the battery 52 through which the running air supplied by the duct 60 is discharged, and a louver structure 80 which blocks the flow from the exhaust port 66A toward the battery 52.

[0091] This disclosure is not limited to the embodiments described above, and various additions, modifications, or deletions are possible without departing from the gist of this disclosure. For example, although the above embodiments describe a parallel hybrid vehicle, this disclosure is also applicable to a series hybrid vehicle. Furthermore, this disclosure is also applicable to electric vehicles, known as EVs, in which only an electric motor is used as the drive source. In addition, this disclosure is also applicable to vehicles equipped with side cowls, and similar effects can be obtained. Furthermore, although the above embodiments describe a motorcycle, this disclosure is also applicable to other saddle-type vehicles, tricycles, four-wheeled buggies, etc.

[0092] Furthermore, the battery 52 may be cooled by a means of airflow other than the driving airflow A. Specifically, instead of driving air pressure, a cooling fan may be used to draw air into the battery case and expel the hot air from inside the battery case. In addition to cooling the battery 52, electronic components that generate heat due to the large currents flowing through them, such as the drive motor, the drive circuit for the drive motor, the ISG motor, and the drive circuit for the ISG motor, may also be cooled. The arrangement of the exhaust holes 66A is not limited to the above embodiment and may be placed in any position. Therefore, such arrangements are also included within the scope of this disclosure. [Explanation of symbols]

[0093] 8 Front wheels 16 Rear wheels 20 Crankshaft 22 Crankcase 23 liters 24 Cylinder Head 26 Generators 30 Clutch cover (cover body) 48a Knee grip area 50 Rear fender (battery case) 52 batteries 60 duct 62 Duct entrance 66,66A exhaust hole 68 Ribs (baffles) 70 Rear Cover (Cover) 75 Obstacle board 80 Louver structure A. Driving airflow E-engine M Motor S storage space

Claims

1. The motor is the power source, A battery that drives the motor, A duct that supplies airflow to the aforementioned battery, A battery case is positioned diagonally above the rear wheel, and the aforementioned battery is housed inside. The battery case is provided with an exhaust port through which the airflow supplied by the duct is discharged, Equipped with, The duct is positioned offset from the center in the width direction of the vehicle, and the inlet of the duct is positioned on the outside in the width direction of the vehicle body. The saddle-type vehicle has a duct inlet that is funnel-shaped, with the opening area of ​​the inlet being larger than the area of ​​the passage behind it.

2. In the saddle-type vehicle according to claim 1, the inlet of the duct is located behind the front wheel, A saddle-type vehicle in which at least a portion of the inlet at the front end of the duct is located outside the width of the vehicle in the front view, relative to the front wheels.

3. A saddle-type vehicle according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the outer end of the duct in the vehicle width direction is located inside the outermost end component of the vehicle in the vehicle width direction.

4. A saddle-type vehicle according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the duct is provided on one side in the width direction of the vehicle body.

5. A motor which is a power source, A battery that drives the motor, A duct that supplies airflow to the aforementioned battery, A battery case is positioned diagonally above the rear wheel, and the aforementioned battery is housed inside. The battery case is provided with an exhaust port through which the airflow supplied by the duct is discharged, Equipped with, The duct is positioned offset from the center in the width direction of the vehicle, and the inlet of the duct is positioned on the outside in the width direction of the vehicle body. The inlet of the aforementioned duct is located below the radiator in a saddle-type vehicle.

6. A saddle-type vehicle according to claim 1 or 2, further comprising a baffle plate that prevents foreign matter from entering through the discharge hole, The aforementioned baffle plate has a louver structure that blocks the flow from the discharge hole toward the battery, in a saddle-type vehicle.

7. The motor is the power source, A battery that drives the motor, A duct that supplies airflow to the aforementioned battery, A battery case is positioned above the rear wheel and houses the aforementioned battery inside, The battery case is provided with an exhaust port through which the airflow supplied by the duct is discharged, In front of the aforementioned battery, between the front and rear wheels, is the engine, which is the power source for driving, The engine comprises a cover body that protrudes from the engine in one direction in the vehicle width direction and covers the end face of the crankshaft, which is located at the bottom of the engine, from the outside in the vehicle width direction, A portion of the duct extends rearward between the outer end of the cover body in the vehicle width direction and the outer end of the engine in the vehicle width direction, in a saddle-type vehicle.

8. A saddle-type vehicle according to Claim 7, wherein the inlet of the duct is located in front of the engine in a side view.

9. A saddle-type vehicle according to claim 7 or 8, further comprising a cover that covers at least a portion of the rear surface of the battery case.

10. The rear fender is positioned above the rear wheel, The motor is the power source, A battery is positioned above the rear wheel and drives the motor, A duct that supplies airflow to the aforementioned battery, The rear fender has an exhaust port formed in the portion behind the battery, through which the airflow supplied by the duct is discharged, A louver structure that blocks the flow from the discharge hole toward the battery, Equipped with, A saddle-type vehicle in which a portion of the discharge hole is provided, when viewed from the rear, further outward in the vehicle width direction than the outer edge of the rear wheel in the vehicle width direction.

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