Leaning vehicle

Abstract

Provided is a scooter-type leaning vehicle in which space between an inner surface of an appearance forming component and a side surface of a head pipe is subject to restrictions, wherein even if a steering assistance motor is provided in a space covered with the appearance forming component, it is possible to secure space for arranging an internal arrangement component and enhance the degree of freedom in design of a storage box or the like. A leaning vehicle 1 includes a vehicle body frame 10, a girder fork 20, an appearance forming component 30, an internal arrangement component 40, a component support stay 50, and a steering assistance motor 61. Regarding the steering assistance motor 61, a rotation axis Q of the steering assistance motor 61 extends along a rotation axis P of a steering shaft 24. The steering assistance motor 61 is configured such that, when viewed in the vertical direction of the leaning vehicle 1, at least a portion of the steering assistance motor 61 is positioned between a leftmost edge 501 and a rightmost edge 502 of the component support stay 50 in the left-right direction of the leaning vehicle 1.

Description

Lean vehicle

[0001] This invention relates to lean vehicles that lean left when turning left and lean right when turning right.

[0002] A lean scooter-type vehicle is known. One proposed lean scooter-type vehicle has a structure in which the area around the head pipe is covered by a front cover and a rear cover, and front equipment parts such as a headlight are housed within the front cover and the rear cover.

[0003] Vertical rigidity is required for component support stays that support exterior components, including cover components such as front and rear covers and front equipment components such as headlights, on the frame.

[0004] Furthermore, since the scooter-type lean vehicle is required to be convenient, it is required to have a configuration that includes a storage box.

[0005] Brake wires and other wiring materials are arranged around the handle connected to the upper end of the steering shaft. The wiring materials, such as the brake wires extending from the brake, are required to avoid interference with the above-mentioned components and component support stays.

[0006] As described above, in the case of a lean scooter-type vehicle, the space around the head pipe is required to accommodate exterior components, component support stays, wiring materials, storage boxes, etc. For this reason, a pine-needle fork, which makes it easier to keep the size around the head pipe small, is sometimes adopted in the case of a lean scooter-type vehicle. The pine-needle fork is a front fork with a structure in which the fork that supports the left and right axles is branched into two at the lower end of the steering shaft.

[0007] Furthermore, there is an increasing demand for convenience in the scooter-type lean vehicles, and there is a demand for steering assistance using electric power steering (hereinafter referred to as "EPS") For example, Patent Document 1 proposes a saddle-type vehicle equipped with an actuator unit for steering assistance.

[0008] US Patent Application Publication No. 20230192221

[0009] As described above, in the lean scooter-type vehicle having the front and rear covers, it is necessary to arrange not only exterior components but also storage boxes and the like in the space in front of the head pipe. The space in front of the head pipe is defined by the front and rear covers. The layout of each component within the front and rear covers is restricted by the space in front of the head pipe.

[0010] In the above-mentioned Patent Document 1, the actuator unit of the EPS is disposed behind the head pipe. However, a configuration in which the actuator unit is disposed behind the head pipe affects the layout of the storage box and the space in which the rider sits.

[0011] In the case of the scooter-type lean vehicle, which is subject to space restrictions within the front and rear covers, even if a steering assist motor is installed within a space covered by exterior components, there is a need to ensure space for arranging internal components and increase the design freedom of storage boxes, etc.

[0012] The present invention aims to provide a lean scooter-type vehicle that is constrained by the space between the inner surface of exterior components and the side of the head pipe, and that can ensure space for arranging internal components even when a steering assist motor is provided in a space covered by exterior components, thereby increasing the design freedom of storage boxes, etc.

[0013] The inventors have conducted detailed research into a lean scooter-type vehicle that is constrained by the space between the inner surface of the exterior components and the side of the head pipe, and that can ensure space for arranging internal components even when a steering assist motor is installed within the space covered by the exterior components, thereby increasing the design freedom of storage boxes, etc.

[0014] As a result of extensive research, the inventors have come up with the following configuration.

[0015] A lean-mounted vehicle according to one embodiment of the present invention is a lean-mounted vehicle that leans to the left when turning left and to the right when turning right. The lean-mounted vehicle includes a body frame, a pine-needle fork, exterior components, internal components, a component support stay, and a steering assist motor. The body frame has a head pipe at its front. The pine-needle fork includes a left fork section that supports the left end of a front wheel axle, a right fork section that supports the right end of the front wheel axle, a connecting section that connects the upper ends of the left fork section and the right fork section and is located below the head pipe in the vertical direction of the lean-mounted vehicle, and a steering shaft that extends upward from the connecting section and is connected at its upper end to a handlebar. The exterior components cover the front side surface of the head pipe when viewed from the front, the rear side surface of the head pipe when viewed from the rear, the right side surface of the head pipe when viewed from the right, and the left side surface of the head pipe when viewed from the left. At least a portion of the internally disposed component is disposed between an inner surface of the exterior component and a side surface of the head pipe. The component support stay is located between the exterior component and the head pipe, extends forward from the head pipe in the fore-and-aft direction of the lean vehicle, and supports at least one of the exterior component or the internally disposed component relative to the head pipe. The steering assist motor is located between the exterior component and the head pipe, and outputs torque to the steering shaft or receives torque from the steering shaft via a torque transmission mechanism that transmits torque to the steering shaft or that can transmit torque input from the steering shaft. The steering assist motor is configured so that a rotational axis of the steering assist motor extends along the rotational axis of the steering shaft, and at least a portion of the steering assist motor is located between the leftmost edge and the rightmost edge of the component support stay when viewed in the up-and-down direction of the lean vehicle.

[0016] The above-described configuration includes a pine-needle fork including left and right fork sections located below the head pipe in the vertical direction of the lean vehicle, and a steering shaft extending upward from a connecting section connecting the upper end of the left fork section to the upper end of the right fork section and connected at its upper end to a handlebar. When the handlebars are operated, the parts of the pine-needle fork that swing around the rotation axis of the steering shaft are the connecting section located below the head pipe and the left and right fork sections connected by the connecting section. Therefore, when the pine-needle fork swings, it is possible to avoid interference with a component support stay supported by the head pipe.

[0017] Furthermore, as viewed in the up-down direction of the lean vehicle, at least a portion of the steering assist motor is located between the leftmost edge and the rightmost edge of the component support stay. Therefore, the left-right width of the space occupied by the steering assist motor and the component support stay in the left-right direction of the lean vehicle is reduced, and therefore, spaces extending up and down to the left and right of the component support stay and the steering assist motor can be secured within the space covered by the exterior component parts.

[0018] With this configuration, even if the steering assist motor is provided in a space covered by the exterior components, space for arranging the internal components can be secured, thereby increasing the degree of freedom in designing the storage box, etc. Therefore, the degree of freedom in designing the front equipment components can be further improved.

[0019] According to another aspect, the lean vehicle of the present invention preferably includes the following configuration.

[0020] In the lean vehicle, the maximum width of the steering assist motor in the left-right direction of the lean vehicle is smaller than the dimension of the steering assist motor in the direction of its rotational axis, and a portion of the component support stay and a portion of the steering assist motor overlap when viewed in the left-right direction of the lean vehicle; alternatively, the maximum width of the steering assist motor in the left-right direction of the lean vehicle is larger than the dimension of the steering assist motor in the direction of its rotational axis, and the component support stay and the steering assist motor do not overlap when viewed in the left-right direction of the lean vehicle.

[0021] The above-described configuration can take the following two forms: In a first form, for example, a steering assist motor having an axial dimension larger than the maximum width of the lean vehicle in the lateral direction is positioned between the left and right edge portions of the component support stay.

[0022] Therefore, according to the configuration of the first aspect, the vertical size of the space occupied by the steering assist motor and the component support stay can be reduced in the lean vehicle. Furthermore, since the steering assist motor is not aligned to the left of the left edge of the component support stay or to the right of the right edge of the component support stay in the left-right direction of the lean vehicle, the width of the space occupied by the steering assist motor and the component support stay in the left-right direction of the lean vehicle can be reduced. Even if the length of the head pipe is limited, the component support stay overlaps the steering assist motor when viewed in the left-right direction of the lean vehicle, ensuring the vertical dimension necessary to increase the support rigidity in the vertical direction. Furthermore, since the vertical dimension of the steering assist motor can be increased even if the size of the steering assist motor in the left-right direction of the lean vehicle is limited, the required performance can be ensured.

[0023] In the second aspect, the steering assist motor has a maximum width in the left-right direction of the lean vehicle that is greater than the dimension of the steering assist motor in the direction of the rotation axis, and is configured so as not to overlap with the component support stay when viewed in the left-right direction of the lean vehicle.

[0024] As a result, even when the vertical dimension is restricted by the length of the head pipe, the vertical size of the space occupied by the steering assist motor and the component support stay can be reduced by using the steering assist motor that ensures the necessary performance by increasing the left-right dimension of the lean vehicle. Furthermore, since the steering assist motor is not aligned side by side with the component support stay in the left-right direction of the lean vehicle, the left-right width of the space occupied by the steering assist motor and the component support stay in the lean vehicle can be reduced.

[0025] By configuring it in this manner, even if the steering assist motor is installed in a space covered by external components, the left-right and up-down dimensions of the space occupied by the component support stay and the steering assist motor can be reduced, thereby ensuring space for arranging internal components and increasing the design freedom of storage boxes, etc.

[0026] From another viewpoint, it is preferable that the lean vehicle of the present invention includes the following configuration: The lean vehicle has a storage box on at least one of the left and right sides of the steering shaft in the left-right direction of the lean vehicle, and when viewed in the direction of the rotational axis of the steering shaft, the front end edge of the storage box is located forward of the rear end edge of the steering assist motor in the front-rear direction of the lean vehicle.

[0027] In the above-described configuration, the front edge of the storage box is located forward of the rear edge of the steering assist motor in the longitudinal direction of the lean vehicle. The storage box can be disposed, for example, in a space covered by the exterior components, in a position overlapping with the steering assist motor when viewed in the left-right direction of the lean vehicle. This allows a space extending forward and backward in the longitudinal direction of the lean vehicle to be secured within the space covered by the exterior components on at least one side of the steering shaft, without being restricted by the steering assist motor. This improves the design flexibility of the storage box. This, in turn, increases the storage capacity of the storage box.

[0028] From another viewpoint, it is preferable that the lean vehicle of the present invention includes the following configuration: The lean vehicle has a storage box on at least one of the left and right sides of the steering shaft in the left-right direction of the lean vehicle, and a lower edge of the storage box is located lower than an upper edge of the steering assist motor in the direction of the rotational axis of the steering shaft as viewed in the left-right direction of the lean vehicle.

[0029] In the above-described configuration, the lower edge of the storage box is positioned lower than the upper edge of the steering assist motor in the rotational axis direction of the steering shaft. The storage box can be disposed in the space covered by the exterior components, for example, in a position overlapping with the steering assist motor when viewed in the left-right direction of the lean vehicle. This allows a space extending vertically in the vertical direction of the lean vehicle to be secured within the space covered by the exterior components on at least one side of the steering shaft, without being restricted by the steering assist motor. This improves the design flexibility of the storage box. This, in turn, increases the storage capacity of the storage box.

[0030] The terminology used in this specification is used for the purpose of defining particular embodiments only, and is not intended to limit the invention.

[0031] As used herein, "and / or" includes all combinations of one or more of the associated listed members.

[0032] In this specification, the use of "including," "comprising," or "having" and variations thereof identify the presence of stated features, steps, operations, elements, components, and / or equivalents thereof, but may include one or more of the steps, operations, elements, components, and / or groups thereof.

[0033] As used herein, the terms "attached," "connected," "coupled," and / or their equivalents are used broadly to encompass both "direct and indirect" attachments, connections, and couplings. Furthermore, "connected" and "coupled" are not limited to physical or mechanical connections or couplings, but can also include direct or indirect electrical connections or couplings.

[0034] Unless otherwise defined, all terms (including technical and scientific terms) used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which this invention belongs.

[0035] Terms defined in commonly used dictionaries should be construed to have a meaning consistent with the meaning in the context of the relevant art and this disclosure, and should not be construed in an idealized or overly formal sense unless expressly defined herein.

[0036] It will be understood that in describing the present invention, several techniques and processes are disclosed, each of which has distinct advantages and can be used in conjunction with one or more, or in some cases all, of the other disclosed techniques.

[0037] Thus, for the sake of clarity, the description of the present invention refrains from unnecessarily repeating every possible combination of the individual steps, but the specification and claims should be read with the understanding that all such combinations are within the scope of the present invention.

[0038] In this specification, an embodiment of a lean vehicle according to the present invention will be described.

[0039] In the following description, numerous specific examples are set forth to provide a thorough understanding of the present invention. However, it will be apparent to one skilled in the art that the present invention may be practiced without these specific examples.

[0040] Accordingly, the following disclosure is to be considered as illustrative of the present invention and is not intended to limit the invention to the specific embodiments illustrated by the following drawings or description.

[0041] [Lean vehicle] In this specification, a lean vehicle is a vehicle that turns in a leaning position. Specifically, a lean vehicle refers to a vehicle that, in the left-right direction of the vehicle, leans to the left when turning left and leans to the right when turning right. A lean vehicle may be a vehicle for one person or a vehicle that can accommodate multiple people. A lean vehicle is not limited by the number of wheels or the presence or absence of wheels, and includes all vehicles that turn in a leaning position. A lean vehicle also includes scooters and the like.

[0042] [Pine-needle fork] In this specification, the term "pine-needle fork" refers to a front fork having a structure in which a fork supporting the left and right axles branches into two at the lower end of the steering shaft. That is, the pine-needle fork is composed of a left fork portion supporting the left end of the front wheel axle, a right fork portion supporting the right end of the front wheel axle, a connecting portion connecting the upper ends of the left fork portion and the right fork portion and positioned below the head pipe in the vertical direction of the lean vehicle, and a steering shaft extending upward from the connecting portion and connected at its upper end to the handlebars. Note that the pine-needle fork may or may not include a coil spring and a damper.

[0043] [Torque transmission mechanism] In this specification, the torque transmission mechanism refers to a configuration that transmits the torque of the steering assist motor to the steering shaft. The torque transmission mechanism may be configured to change the magnitude, direction, etc. of the input torque and transmit it. The torque transmission mechanism includes, for example, a gear, a belt, a chain, a link, or the like.

[0044] [Exterior component parts] In this specification, exterior component parts refer to parts that cover the front side of the head pipe when viewed from the front of the lean vehicle, cover the rear side of the head pipe when viewed from the rear, cover the right side of the head pipe when viewed from the right, or cover the left side of the head pipe when viewed from the left.

[0045] The exterior components include parts such as exterior covers including a front cover and a rear cover, meters, switches, brake hoses, and lighting devices including headlights and indicators. That is, the exterior components include parts that are located in positions that allow the lean vehicle to be seen from any of the front, rear, left, right, top, and bottom directions of the lean vehicle. The exterior components also include parts that are supported on the head pipe by component support stays.

[0046] [Internal Mounted Components] In this specification, the term "internal mounted components" refers to components that are partially or entirely mounted between the inner surface of an exterior component and the head pipe of a lean vehicle. Internal mounted components include components such as wire-like members such as brake hoses, electrical harnesses, hydraulic units for anti-lock brake systems (ABSs), batteries, electrical components, horns, rectifiers / regulators, steering lock mechanisms, and control devices including computing devices. Internal mounted components also include components that are supported on the head pipe by component support stays.

[0047] According to one embodiment of the present invention, it is possible to provide a lean scooter-type vehicle that is constrained by the space between the inner surface of the exterior components and the side of the head pipe, and that can ensure the functions required of the storage box, mounting components, support stays, or wiring materials even when EPS functions are added.

[0048] FIG. 1 is a side view showing an outline of the overall configuration of a lean vehicle according to a first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a front view showing a pine-needle fork of the lean vehicle according to the first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3 is a partial cross-sectional view showing the configuration of the head pipe and its surroundings of the lean vehicle. FIG. 4 is a schematic cross-sectional view taken along line IV-IV shown in FIG. 1. FIG. 5 is a partial cross-sectional view of a lean vehicle according to a modified example of the first embodiment of the present invention, corresponding to FIG. 3. FIG. 6 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a lean vehicle according to a modified example of the first embodiment of the present invention, corresponding to FIG. 4. FIG. 7 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a lean vehicle according to a second embodiment of the present invention, corresponding to FIG. 4. FIG. 8 is a partial cross-sectional view of the configuration of the head pipe and its surroundings of a lean vehicle according to a third embodiment of the present invention, corresponding to FIG. 3. FIG. 9 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a lean vehicle according to the third embodiment of the present invention, corresponding to FIG. 4. FIG. 10 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a lean vehicle according to a modified example of the second embodiment of the present invention, corresponding to FIG. 7. FIG. 11 is a schematic diagram showing an outline of the external appearance and internal structure of a lean vehicle according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

[0049] Each embodiment will be described below with reference to the drawings. In each drawing, the same parts are designated by the same reference numerals, and the description of the same parts will not be repeated. Note that the dimensions of the components in each drawing do not faithfully represent the actual dimensions of the components and the dimensional ratios of the components.

[0050] Hereinafter, the arrow FR in the drawings indicates the forward direction of the lean vehicles 1, 1A, 2, 2A, and 3. The arrow UP in the drawings indicates the upward direction of the lean vehicles 1, 1A, 2, 2A, and 3. The arrow LF in the drawings indicates the left direction of the lean vehicles 1, 1A, 2, 2A, and 3. The arrow RG in the drawings indicates the right direction of the lean vehicles 1, 1A, 2, 2A, and 3. Furthermore, in the following description, the front, rear, left, and right directions respectively refer to the front, rear, left, and right directions when viewed from the perspective of a passenger driving the lean vehicles 1, 1A, 2, 2A, and 3.

[0051] <Embodiment 1> (Overall Configuration of Lean Vehicle) A lean vehicle 1 according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 and 11 . FIG. 1 is a side view showing an outline of the overall configuration of the lean vehicle 1 according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention. FIG. 11 is a schematic view showing an outline of the exterior and internal structure of the lean vehicle 1 according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention. The lean vehicle 1 is, for example, a scooter-type motorcycle that turns in a leaned posture. That is, the lean vehicle 1 leans left when turning left and leans right when turning right. The lean vehicle 1 has a front wheel 81, a rear wheel 82, a body frame 10, a pine-needle fork 20, exterior components 30, internal components 40 (see FIG. 11 ), a component support stay 50, a steering assist device 60 including a steering assist motor 61, and a torque sensor 71.

[0052] The body frame 10 has a head pipe 11 , a front frame 12 , a lower frame 13 , a rear frame 14 , and a rear arm 15 .

[0053] The head pipe 11 is located at the front of the body frame 10. The head pipe 11 supports a steering shaft 24 (described later) so that the steering shaft 24 is rotatable about a rotation axis P. The head pipe 11 and the steering shaft 24 extend in the up-down direction of the lean vehicle 1 along the axial direction in which the rotation axis P extends.

[0054] A head pipe 11 is connected to the front of the front frame 12. The front frame 12 extends from the head pipe 11 toward the rear and downward of the lean vehicle 1.

[0055] The lower frame 13 is connected to the lower end of the front frame 12. The lower frame 13 extends from the lower end of the front frame 12 toward the rear of the lean vehicle 1. A footboard 83 is disposed above the lower frame 13. The footboard 83 is a flat floor type that is flat from one end to the other end in the left-right direction of the lean vehicle 1.

[0056] The rear frame 14 is connected to the rear end of the lower frame 13. The rear frame 14 extends from the rear end of the lower frame 13 toward the rear and upward of the lean vehicle 1. A seat 84 on which passengers, including the driver, are seated is disposed above the rear frame 14.

[0057] The rear arm 15 is connected to the lower part of the rear frame 14. A power unit 85 that drives the rear wheel 82 is supported on the rear part of the rear arm 15. The power unit 85 may be, for example, an electric drive motor powered by a battery (not shown).

[0058] (Pine needle type fork) The configuration of the pine needle type fork 20 of the lean vehicle 1 will be described with reference to Fig. 2. Fig. 2 is a front view showing the pine needle type fork 20 of the lean vehicle 1 according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

[0059] As shown in FIG. 2 , the pine needle type fork 20 has a left fork portion 21 , a right fork portion 22 , a connecting portion 23 , and a steering shaft 24 .

[0060] The left fork section 21 supports the left end of the axle 811 of the front wheel 81. The right fork section 22 supports the right end of the axle 811 of the front wheel 81. The connecting section 23 connects the upper end of the left fork section 21 to the upper end of the right fork section 22, and is located below the head pipe 11 in the vertical direction of the lean vehicle 1. The steering shaft 24 extends upward from the connecting section 23 in the axial direction of the steering shaft 24. The upper end of the steering shaft 24 is connected to the handlebars 86.

[0061] (Configuration around the head pipe) The configuration around the head pipe 11 of the lean vehicle 1 will be described with reference to Figures 3 and 4. Figure 3 is a partial cross-sectional view showing the configuration around the head pipe 11 of the lean vehicle 1. Figure 4 is a schematic cross-sectional view taken along line IV-IV shown in Figure 1. Note that for ease of viewing, part of the configuration of the lean vehicle 1 is omitted in Figure 4.

[0062] 3 and 4 , the exterior component parts 30 cover the front side surface of the head pipe 11 when the lean vehicle 1 is viewed from the front, the rear side surface of the head pipe 11 when viewed from the rear, the right side surface of the head pipe 11 when viewed from the right, or the left side surface of the head pipe 11 when viewed from the left. The exterior component parts 30 include, for example, a front cover 31, a rear cover 32, and a headlight 33. Furthermore, the exterior component parts 30 may include parts such as meters, switches, brake hoses, and lighting devices including indicators, which are not shown.

[0063] The internally disposed components 40 are components that are partially or entirely disposed between the inner surface of the exterior structural component 30 and the head pipe 11. The internally disposed components 40 include wiring materials 41 such as brake hoses, part of which is disposed between the inner surface of the exterior structural component 30 and the head pipe 11. The internally disposed components 40 may also include components such as an electrical harness, a hydraulic unit of an ABS (Anti-lock brake System), a battery, electrical components, a rectifier / regulator, a steering lock mechanism, and a control device including a computing device, all of which are not shown.

[0064] The component support stay 50 is located between the exterior component 30 and the head pipe 11. The component support stay 50 extends forward in the fore-and-aft direction of the lean vehicle 1 from the head pipe 11. The component support stay 50 supports at least one of the exterior component 30 and the internally disposed component 40 relative to the head pipe 11.

[0065] As shown in Fig. 4 , the component support stay 50 has a first fixing portion 511 and a second fixing portion 512 in a front portion 503 located forward in the fore-and-aft direction of the lean vehicle 1. For example, the front cover 31 is fixed to the first fixing portion 511 of the component support stay 50. The headlight 33 is fixed to the second fixing portion 512 of the component support stay 50. In this way, the front cover 31 and the headlight 33, which serve as exterior components 30, are supported relative to the head pipe 11 by the component support stay 50.

[0066] Furthermore, the wiring material 41 is attached to the attachment portion 52 of the component support stay 50. As a result, the wiring material 41 as the internally disposed component 40 is supported relative to the head pipe 11 by the component support stay 50.

[0067] The lean vehicle 1 may have a support stay other than the component support stay 50. Although not particularly shown, the rear cover 32 may be fixed to the component support stay 50, the front cover 31, or the other support stay.

[0068] The steering assist device 60 is an electric power steering drive device that assists the steering operation of the driver of the lean vehicle 1. The steering assist device 60 includes a steering assist motor 61 and a torque transmission mechanism 62.

[0069] The steering assist motor 61 has a rotation axis Q that extends along the rotation axis P of the steering shaft 24. The steering assist motor 61 is a motor that outputs torque about the rotation axis Q. The steering assist motor 61 is located between the exterior component 30 and the head pipe 11. The steering assist motor 61 outputs torque to the steering shaft 24 via a torque transmission mechanism 62, which will be described later. The steering assist motor 61 also receives torque from the steering shaft 24 via the torque transmission mechanism 62, which will be described later.

[0070] The torque transmission mechanism 62 transmits the torque output by the steering assist motor 61 to the steering shaft 24. The torque transmission mechanism 62 may be configured in any way, such as a gear, a link, a belt, or a chain, as long as it is capable of transmitting the torque of the steering assist motor 61 to the steering shaft 24. The torque transmission mechanism 62 is connected to the steering assist motor 61 and the steering shaft 24. The torque transmission mechanism 62 is configured to rotate the steering shaft 24 by transmitting the torque from the steering assist motor 61 to the upper end of the steering shaft 24, for example. The steering assist motor 61 is supported on the steering shaft 24 by the torque transmission mechanism 62. The steering assist motor 61 is located in a range above the connecting portion 23 of the pine needle fork 20 and below the lowest end of the handlebars 86 in the up-down direction of the lean vehicle 1.

[0071] As shown in FIG. 3 , the torque sensor 71 is located above the steering shaft 24 in the direction of the rotation axis, and detects the torque between the steering wheel 86 and the steering shaft 24. The steering assist device 60 controls the steering assist motor 61 based on the torque detection result. Note that the lean vehicle 1 may also have a steering angle sensor (not shown). For example, the steering angle sensor may detect the steering angle of the steering wheel 86, and the torque sensor 71 may detect the torque of the steering wheel 86, and the steering assist device 60 may control the steering assist motor 61 based on the detected steering angle and torque.

[0072] (Positional Relationship Between the Steering Assist Motor and the Component Support Stay) Referring again to Figures 3, 4, and 11, the positional relationship between the steering assist motor 61 and the component support stay 50 will be described. As shown in Figure 4, the steering assist motor 61 is configured such that at least a portion of the steering assist motor 61 is located between the leftmost edge 501 and the rightmost edge 502 of the component support stay 50 in the left-right direction of the lean vehicle 1, as viewed in the up-down direction of the lean vehicle 1. Furthermore, the steering assist motor 61 is located in a position overlapping both the leftmost edge 501 and the rightmost edge 502 of the component support stay 50, as viewed in the up-down direction of the lean vehicle 1. From another perspective, a portion of the steering assist motor 61 is located between the leftmost edge 501 and the rightmost edge 502 of the component support stay 50, which are located between the front end edge 611 and the rear end edge 612 of the steering assist motor 61 in the front-rear direction of the lean vehicle 1. The steering assist motor 61 is located in a range rearward of the front end edge of the component support stay 50 and forward of the rear end edge of the head pipe 11 in the longitudinal direction of the lean vehicle 1 .

[0073] When the handlebars 86 are operated, the parts of the pine-needle fork 20 that swing around the rotation axis P of the steering shaft 24 are the connecting part 23, which is located below the head pipe 11, and the left and right fork parts 21 and 22 that are connected by the connecting part 23. Therefore, when the pine-needle fork 20 swings, it is possible to avoid interference with the component support stay 50 that is supported by the head pipe 11.

[0074] Furthermore, when viewed in the up-down direction of the lean vehicle 1, at least a portion of the steering assist motor 61 is located between the leftmost edge 501 and the rightmost edge 502 of the component support stay 50. Therefore, the width of the space occupied by the steering assist motor 61 and the component support stay 50 in the left-right direction of the lean vehicle 1 is reduced, and therefore, a space extending up-down to the left and right of the component support stay 50 and the steering assist motor 61 can be secured within the space covered by the exterior component 30.

[0075] By configuring it in this manner, even if the steering assist motor 61 is installed in a space covered by the exterior component parts 30, space for arranging the internal components 40 can be secured, thereby increasing the design freedom of storage boxes, etc.

[0076] Therefore, the degree of freedom in designing the front equipment parts that are mounted on the front of the lean vehicle 1 can be further improved.

[0077] 3 and 4, the steering assist motor 61 has a maximum width W1 in the left-right direction of the lean vehicle 1 that is larger than the dimension L1 in the rotational axis direction of the steering assist motor 61. Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 3, the steering assist motor 61 is configured so as not to overlap with the component support stay 50 when viewed in the left-right direction of the lean vehicle 1.

[0078] According to the above-described configuration, even when the dimension of the steering assist motor 61 in the direction of its rotational axis and the dimension in the up-down direction of the lean vehicle 1 are restricted by the length of the head pipe 11, it is possible to obtain a steering assist motor 61 that ensures the required performance by increasing the dimension in the left-right direction of the lean vehicle 1. By using a steering assist motor 61 that ensures the required performance in this manner, the size of the space occupied by the steering assist motor 61 and the component support stay 50 in the up-down direction of the lean vehicle 1 is reduced. Furthermore, because the steering assist motor 61 is not arranged side by side with the component support stay 50 in the left-right direction of the lean vehicle 1, the width of the space occupied by the steering assist motor 61 and the component support stay 50 in the left-right direction of the lean vehicle 1 can be reduced.

[0079] By configuring it in this manner, even if the steering assist motor 61 is installed in a space covered by the exterior component parts 30, the left-right and up-down dimensions of the space occupied by the component support stay 50 and the steering assist motor 61 can be reduced, thereby ensuring space for arranging the internal components 40 and increasing the design freedom of storage boxes, etc.

[0080] <Modification of First Embodiment> A lean vehicle 1A according to a modification of the first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to Figures 5 and 6. Figure 5 is a partial cross-sectional view of the lean vehicle 1A according to a modification of the first embodiment of the present invention, and is a view corresponding to Figure 3. Figure 6 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the lean vehicle 1A according to the modification, and is a view corresponding to Figure 4. The lean vehicle 1A according to the modification differs from the lean vehicle 1 according to the first embodiment in that it has a storage box 87. In the following description of the modification, parts common to the lean vehicle 1 according to the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals, and detailed description thereof will not be repeated.

[0081] 5 and 6, the lean vehicle 1A has storage boxes 87 on the left and right of the head pipe 11 and the steering shaft 24 when viewed in the up-down direction of the lean vehicle 1A. The storage boxes 87 include a left storage box 871 located on the left of the steering shaft 24 and a right storage box 872 located on the right of the steering shaft 24 in the left-right direction of the lean vehicle 1A.

[0082] When viewed in the direction of the rotational axis of the steering shaft 24, the front edge 8701 of the storage box 87 is located forward of the rear edge 612 of the steering assist motor 61 in the longitudinal direction of the lean vehicle 1A. Note that, as shown in FIG. 5 , when viewed in the vertical direction of the lean vehicle 1A, the front edge 8701 of the storage box 87 may be located forward of the rear edge 612 of the steering assist motor 61 in the longitudinal direction of the lean vehicle 1A.

[0083] The storage box 87 is located at a position overlapping with the steering assist motor 61 when viewed in the left-right direction of the lean vehicle 1A.

[0084] In the above-described configuration, the storage box 87 can be disposed in the space covered by the exterior components 30, for example, in a positional relationship where it overlaps with the steering assist motor 61 when viewed in the left-right direction of the lean vehicle 1A. As a result, on at least one of the left and right sides of the steering shaft 24, a space extending in the front-rear direction of the lean vehicle 1A can be secured within the space covered by the exterior components 30 without being restricted by the steering assist motor 61. This improves the design freedom of the storage box 87. As a result, the storage capacity of the storage box 87 can be increased.

[0085] Furthermore, when viewed in the left-right direction of the lean vehicle 1A, the storage box 87 is arranged such that a lower edge 8702 of the storage box 87 is located lower than an upper edge 613 of the steering assist motor 61 in the rotational axis direction of the steering shaft 24. Note that when viewed in the left-right direction of the lean vehicle 1A, the lower edge 8702 of the storage box 87 may be located lower than an upper edge 613 of the steering assist motor 61 in the up-down direction of the lean vehicle 1A.

[0086] In the above-described configuration, the storage box 87 can be disposed in the space covered by the exterior components 30, for example, in a positional relationship where it overlaps with the steering assist motor 61 when viewed in the left-right direction of the lean vehicle 1A. As a result, on at least one of the left and right sides of the steering shaft 24, a space extending up and down in the up-down direction of the lean vehicle 1A can be secured within the space covered by the exterior components 30 without being restricted by the steering assist motor 61. This improves the design freedom of the storage box 87. As a result, the storage capacity of the storage box 87 can be increased.

[0087] <Embodiment 2> A lean vehicle 2 according to embodiment 2 of the present invention will be described with reference to Fig. 7. Fig. 7 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the lean vehicle 2 according to embodiment 2 of the present invention, and is a view corresponding to Fig. 4. The lean vehicle 2 according to embodiment 2 differs from the lean vehicle 1 according to embodiment 1 in that it has a steering lock mechanism 73. In the following description of embodiment 2, parts that are common to the lean vehicle 1 according to embodiment 1 are assigned the same reference numerals, and detailed description thereof will not be repeated.

[0088] As shown in FIG. 7 , the steering lock mechanism 73 is located to the right of the head pipe 11 in the left-right direction of the lean vehicle 2. The steering lock mechanism 73 is located to the right of a center line CL in the left-right direction of the lean vehicle 2. When viewed in the up-down direction of the lean vehicle 2, the center line CL passes through the rotation axis P and extends in the front-to-rear direction of the lean vehicle 2. The steering lock mechanism 73 is activated by a switch or the like (not shown). The steering lock mechanism 73 restricts the rotation of the steering shaft 24 when the switch is in the on state. Furthermore, the steering lock mechanism 73 releases the restriction on the rotation of the steering shaft 24 when the switch is in the off state. Furthermore, the steering lock mechanism 73 is located to the right of the rightmost edge 502 of the component support stay 50.

[0089] When viewed in the up-down direction of the lean vehicle 2, the steering assist motor 61 and the rotation axis Q are located to the left of the center line CL in the left-right direction of the lean vehicle 2. Therefore, the steering assist motor 61 is located on the opposite side of the steering lock mechanism 73 with respect to the center line CL in the left-right direction of the lean vehicle 2.

[0090] The steering assist motor 61 is located at a position that overlaps the leftmost edge 501 of the component support stay 50 but does not overlap the rightmost edge 502 of the component support stay 50 when viewed in the vertical direction of the lean vehicle 2. Furthermore, the right end edge 614 of the steering assist motor 61 is located to the left of the center line CL when viewed in the vertical direction of the lean vehicle 2.

[0091] The right storage box 872 is located to the right and in front of the steering lock mechanism 73 in the space within the front cover 31 and the rear cover 32 .

[0092] The left storage box 871 is located rearward of the rear end edge 612 of the steering assist motor 61 when viewed in the up-down direction of the lean vehicle 2 .

[0093] <Third Embodiment> A lean vehicle 3 according to a third embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to Figures 8 and 9. Figure 8 is a partial cross-sectional view showing the configuration around the head pipe 11 of the lean vehicle 3 according to the third embodiment of the present invention, and is a view corresponding to Figure 3. Figure 9 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the lean vehicle 3 according to the third embodiment of the present invention, and is a view corresponding to Figure 4. The lean vehicle 3 according to the third embodiment differs from the lean vehicle 1 according to the first embodiment in that the maximum width W2 of the steering assist motor 61 in the left-right direction of the lean vehicle 3 is configured to be smaller than the dimension L2 of the steering assist motor 61 in the direction of the rotational axis. Note that in the following description of the third embodiment, parts common to the lean vehicle 1 according to the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals, and detailed description thereof will not be repeated.

[0094] As shown in FIGS. 8 and 9 , the component support stay 55 of the lean vehicle 3 has a left portion 551 , a right portion 552 , and a front portion 553 .

[0095] The left portion 551 extends in the front-rear direction of the lean vehicle 3 to the left of the center line CL in the left-right direction of the lean vehicle 3. The right portion 552 extends in the front-rear direction of the lean vehicle 3 to the right of the center line CL in the left-right direction of the lean vehicle 3.

[0096] The left portion 551 and the right portion 552 are connected by a front portion 553 at the front in the longitudinal direction of the lean vehicle 3 .

[0097] The steering assist motor 61 has a maximum width W2 in the left-right direction of the lean vehicle 3 that is smaller than a dimension L2 in the rotational axis direction of the steering assist motor 61. In addition, as shown in FIG. 8 , the steering assist motor 61 is configured so that a portion of the component support stay 55 and a portion of the steering assist motor 61 overlap when viewed in the left-right direction of the lean vehicle 3.

[0098] 9 , in the above-described configuration, the maximum width W2 of the steering assist motor 61 in the left-right direction of the lean vehicle 3 is smaller than the interval W3 in the left-right direction of the component support stay 55. Therefore, the steering assist motor 61 is located between the leftmost edge 5511 and the rightmost edge 5521 of the component support stay 55 in the left-right direction of the lean vehicle 3.

[0099] Therefore, with the above-described configuration, it is possible to reduce the vertical size of the space occupied by the steering assist motor 61 and the component support stay 55 in the lean vehicle 3. Furthermore, since the steering assist motor 61 is not aligned horizontally to the left of the leftmost edge 5511 of the component support stay 55 or to the right of the rightmost edge 5521 of the component support stay 55 in the left-right direction of the lean vehicle 3, it is possible to reduce the width of the space occupied by the steering assist motor 61 and the component support stay 55 in the left-right direction of the lean vehicle 3. Within the space covered by the exterior component 30, a space extending in the front-to-rear direction of the lean vehicle 3 can be secured without being restricted by the steering assist motor 61.

[0100] Furthermore, even if the length of the head pipe 11 is restricted, the vertical dimension required to increase the vertical support rigidity can be secured because the steering assist motor 61 overlaps the component support stay 55 when viewed in the left-right direction of the lean vehicle 3. Furthermore, the vertical dimension of the steering assist motor 61 can be increased even if the size of the steering assist motor 61 in the left-right direction of the lean vehicle 3 is restricted, so the required performance can be secured.

[0101] Other Embodiments Although the embodiments of the present invention have been described above, the above-described embodiments are merely examples for carrying out the present invention. Therefore, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and the above-described embodiments can be appropriately modified and carried out without departing from the spirit of the present invention.

[0102] In the first embodiment described above, the maximum width W1 in the left-right direction of the lean vehicle 1 is greater than the dimension L1 in the rotational axis direction of the steering assist motor 61. Also, in the third embodiment described above, the maximum width W2 in the left-right direction of the lean vehicle 1 is smaller than the dimension L2 in the rotational axis direction of the steering assist motor 61. However, in each of the above embodiments, the dimension in the rotational axis direction of the steering assist motor and the maximum width in the left-right direction of the lean vehicle can be set arbitrarily depending on the performance required of the steering assist motor. For example, the dimension in the rotational axis direction of the steering assist motor and the maximum width in the left-right direction of the lean vehicle may be the same.

[0103] In each of the above-described embodiments, the meter as an exterior component may be fixed to a position that is easily visible to a driver riding in a lean vehicle, such as an upper portion of a head pipe.

[0104] Although not specifically explained in the above-described embodiments, the distance between the front edge of the steering assist motor and the inner surface of the exterior component member in the longitudinal direction of the lean vehicle may be smaller or larger than the distance between the rear edge of the steering assist motor and the rear edge of the head pipe. Also, the distance between the front edge of the steering assist motor and the inner surface of the exterior component member may be the same as the distance between the rear edge of the steering assist motor and the rear edge of the head pipe in the longitudinal direction of the lean vehicle.

[0105] In each of the above-described embodiments, the power unit 85 drives the rear wheels 82. However, the power unit may also drive the front wheels. Furthermore, the power unit may be powered by an internal combustion engine rather than an electric drive motor. Furthermore, the power unit may not be supported by the rear arm, but may be supported by a portion of the body frame other than the rear arm.

[0106] In each of the above-described embodiments, the body frame 10 includes a head pipe 11, a front frame 12, a lower frame 13, a rear frame 14, and a rear arm 15. However, the body frame may have a structure such as a single cradle or double cradle frame.

[0107] In each of the above-described embodiments, the footboard 83 of the lean vehicles 1, 1A, 2, 2A, and 3 is a flat floor type that is flat from one end to the other end in the left-right direction of the lean vehicle. However, in a lean vehicle, a center tunnel may be disposed in the center of the lean vehicle in the left-right direction. In other words, the footboard may be divided into two parts, one on the left side and one on the right side of the center tunnel.

[0108] In the above-described second embodiment, the steering assist motor 61 is located to the left of the center line CL in the left-right direction of the lean vehicle 2, when viewed in the up-down direction of the lean vehicle 2. However, as shown in Fig. 10, the steering assist motor 61 may be located to the left of the leftmost edge 501 of the component support stay 50, when viewed in the up-down direction of the lean vehicle 2A.

[0109] Furthermore, by arranging the steering assist motor 61 to the left of the center line CL in the left-right direction of the lean vehicle 2A, it is possible to increase the dimensions of the right storage box 872, for example. This also improves the degree of freedom in designing the driver's leg space.

[0110] In the above-described third embodiment, the lean vehicle 3 does not have the steering lock mechanism 73. However, the lean vehicle may have a steering lock mechanism.

[0111] DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1, 1A, 2, 2A, 3 Lean vehicle 10 Body frame 11 Head pipe 12 Front frame 13 Lower frame 14 Rear frame 15 Rear arm 20 Pine-needle fork 21 Left fork section 22 Right fork section 23 Connecting section 24 Steering shaft 30 Exterior component 31 Front cover 32 Rear cover 33 Headlight 40 Internally disposed component 41 Wiring material 50, 55 Component support stay 501 Leftmost edge 502 Rightmost edge 503 Front section 511 First fixing section 512 Second fixing section 551 Left section 5511 Leftmost edge 552 Right section 5521 Rightmost edge 553 Front section 52 Mounting section 60 Steering assist device 61 Steering assist motor 611 Front end edge 612 Rear edge 613 Upper edge 614 Right edge 62 Torque transmission mechanism 71 Torque sensor 73 Steering lock mechanism 81 Front wheel 82 Rear wheel 83 Footboard 84 Seat 85 Power unit 86 Handlebar 87 Storage box 871 Left storage box 872 Right storage box 8701 Front edge 8702 Lower edge P, Q Rotation axis

Claims

1. A lean vehicle that leans to the left when turning left and leans to the right when turning right, comprising: a body frame having a head pipe at the front; a left fork section supporting the left end of a front wheel axle, a right fork section supporting the right end of the front wheel axle, a connecting section connecting an upper end of the left fork section to an upper end of the right fork section and positioned lower than the head pipe in the vertical direction of the lean vehicle, and a steering shaft extending upward from the connecting section and connected at its upper end to a handle; an exterior component that covers the front side of the head pipe when viewed from the front of the lean vehicle, covers the rear side of the head pipe when viewed from the rear, covers the right side of the head pipe when viewed from the right, or covers the left side of the head pipe when viewed from the left; and an internal component at least a portion of which is disposed between the inner surface of the exterior component and the side of the head pipe. a component support stay located between the exterior component and the head pipe, extending forward from the head pipe in the fore-and-aft direction of the lean vehicle, supporting at least one of the exterior component or the internally arranged component relative to the head pipe; and a steering assist motor located between the exterior component and the head pipe, outputting torque to the steering shaft or receiving torque from the steering shaft via a torque transmission mechanism capable of transmitting torque to the steering shaft, wherein the steering assist motor is configured such that a rotational axis of the steering assist motor extends along the rotational axis of the steering shaft, and at least a portion of the steering assist motor is located between the leftmost edge and the rightmost edge of the component support stay when viewed in the up-and-down direction of the lean vehicle.

2. A lean vehicle as described in claim 1, wherein the maximum width of the steering assist motor in the left-right direction of the lean vehicle is smaller than the dimension of the steering assist motor in the direction of its rotational axis, and a portion of the component support stay and a portion of the steering assist motor overlap when viewed in the left-right direction of the lean vehicle; or, wherein the maximum width of the steering assist motor in the left-right direction of the lean vehicle is larger than the dimension of the steering assist motor in the direction of its rotational axis, and a portion of the component support stay and the steering assist motor do not overlap when viewed in the left-right direction of the lean vehicle.

3. A lean vehicle as described in claim 1 or claim 2, further comprising a storage box on at least one of the left and right sides of the steering shaft in the left-right direction of the lean vehicle, and wherein, as viewed in the direction of the rotational axis of the steering shaft, the front end edge of the storage box is located forward of the rear end edge of the steering assist motor in the fore-and-aft direction of the lean vehicle.

4. A lean vehicle as described in any one of claims 1 to 3, comprising a storage box on at least one of the left and right sides of the steering shaft in the left-right direction of the lean vehicle, and the lower edge of the storage box is positioned lower than the upper edge of the steering assist motor in the direction of the rotational axis of the steering shaft when viewed in the left-right direction of the lean vehicle.

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