Straddled vehicle

Abstract

A saddle-riding type vehicle (1) is a scooter-type saddle-riding type vehicle and comprises a charger (42), a battery pack (43), a head pipe (11), leg shields (33), footrests (36), a seat (5), down frames (12), upper frames (14), and lower frames (13). The charger (42) converts alternating current to direct current. Direct current is supplied to the battery pack (43) from the charger (42). Tunnels (T) are formed between the leg shields (33) and the seat (5), and between the pair of footrests (36). The charger (42) and the battery pack (43) are located in internal spaces of the tunnels (T) extending along the vehicle front-rear direction. The charger (42) is located above the battery pack (43). The charger (43) is located above the pair of upper frames 14.

Description

Straddle vehicle

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

[0002] An electric two-wheeler has a battery and an electric motor. Alternating current from the outside is converted to direct current and stored in the battery. The electric motor is driven by the electric power supplied from the battery to rotate the wheels (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

[0003] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2021-66191

[0004] However, in Patent Document 1, although the arrangement of the battery is described, the arrangement of the charger that converts alternating current from the outside to direct current is not described, and in an electric two-wheeler in which the battery is enlarged, the layout of the charging system components becomes a problem.

[0005] An object of the present invention is to provide a straddle-type vehicle that can perform layout efficiently.

[0006] A saddle-type vehicle according to one aspect of the present invention is a scooter-type saddle-type vehicle comprising a charger, a battery pack, a head pipe, a leg shield, a footrest, a seat, a down frame, an upper frame, and a lower frame. The charger converts an external alternating current into a direct current. The battery pack is supplied with a direct current from the charger. The leg shield is located behind the head pipe. A pair of footrests are located behind the leg shield. The seat is located behind the pair of footrests. A pair of down frames extend downward from the head pipe. The upper frame extends rearward from each of the pair of down frames. The lower frame is located below the upper frame and extends rearward from each of the pair of down frames. A tunnel is formed between the leg shield and the seat, and between the pair of footrests. The charger and battery pack are located in the internal space of the tunnel, which runs along the longitudinal direction of the vehicle. The charger is located above the battery pack. The charger is located above the pair of upper frames. In the saddle-type vehicle according to this embodiment, the battery pack and charger can be efficiently laid out by arranging them in the internal space of the tunnel. By arranging the charger above the battery pack, it is possible to suppress an increase in the wheelbase in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle. By arranging the charger above the upper frame, it is possible to suppress an increase in the wheelbase in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle.

[0007] The battery pack may have a battery pack body and a first connection part. The first connection part may be connected to wiring that electrically connects the charger and the battery pack body. The first connection part may be located on the front of the battery pack body. In this case, the wiring to connect to the charger can be easily connected to the battery pack.

[0008] The saddle-type vehicle may further include an external power connection section. The external power connection section may be connectable to an external AC power source to supply AC current from an external source to the charger. The battery pack may have a battery pack body and a first connection section. The first connection section may be connected to wiring that electrically connects the charger and the battery pack body. The charger may have a charger body and a second connection section. The second connection section may be connected to wiring that electrically connects the external power connection section and the battery pack body to the charger body. The first connection section may be positioned below the lower ends of the second connection section and the external power connection section. In this case, the positions of the external power connection section and the battery pack can be brought closer together in the front-rear direction of the vehicle, and the positions of the battery pack and the charger can be brought closer together, thereby suppressing an increase in the wheelbase.

[0009] The saddle-type vehicle may further include an external power connection section. The external power connection section may be connectable to an external AC power source to supply AC current from an external source to the charger. The charger may have a charger body and a second connection section. The second connection section may be connected to wiring that electrically connects the external power connection section and the battery pack to the charger body. The wiring may be connected to the second connection section from the front. In this case, the wiring connecting the external power connection section and the battery pack can be easily connected to the charger.

[0010] The saddle-type vehicle may be equipped with an external power connection. The external power connection may be connectable to an external AC power source to supply AC current from an external source to the charger. The external power connection may be located outside the down frame in the vehicle width direction. In this case, it is possible to suppress an increase in the wheelbase in the vehicle longitudinal direction.

[0011] The saddle-type vehicle may further include an external power connection section. The external power connection section may be connectable to an external AC power source to supply AC current from an external source to the charger. The charger may have a charger body and a second connection section. The second connection section may be connected to wiring that electrically connects the external power connection section and the battery pack to the charger body. The external power connection section may be positioned above and in front of the second connection section. In this case, the positions of the external power connection section and the charger can be brought closer together, thereby suppressing an increase in the wheelbase in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle.

[0012] The external power connection may be positioned above and in front of the second connection. In the vehicle's longitudinal direction, the external power connection, the first connection, and the second connection may be positioned in the area between the front end of the head pipe and the center of the battery pack. In this case, the wiring for the external power connection, charger, and battery pack can be routed more easily, and the length of each wire can be reduced.

[0013] The saddle-type vehicle may further include a storage box. The storage box may be located under the seat. The charger may be located in front of the storage box. In this case, the space in front of the storage box can be utilized.

[0014] The charger may be shorter than the battery pack in the vehicle's longitudinal direction. The charger may be positioned near the rear end of the top surface of the battery pack. In this case, it is possible to suppress an increase in the wheelbase in the vehicle's longitudinal direction.

[0015] The saddle-type vehicle may further include an external power connection section. The external power connection section may be connectable to an external AC power source to supply AC current to the charger. The charger may have a charger body and a second connection section. The second connection section may be connected to wiring that electrically connects the external power connection section and the battery pack to the charger body. The second connection section may be located on the front of the charger body. In this case, the wiring connecting the external power supply unit and the battery pack can be easily connected to the charger.

[0016] The saddle-type vehicle may further include an opening. The opening may be located in front of the lower part of the head pipe and draw cooling air into the tunnel. When viewed from the front, the charger may be positioned so that at least a portion of it overlaps with the head pipe. The charger may have a charger body and a cooling fan. The cooling fan may cool the charger body. In this case, since the inside of the tunnel becomes an air passage, it is possible to balance the function of guiding air to the cooling fan of the charger and dissipating heat with the efficiency of the charger layout. In addition, since the inside of the tunnel becomes an air passage, the cooling efficiency of the battery pack and charger can be improved.

[0017] The saddle-type vehicle may further include a voltage converter. The voltage converter may be located behind the battery pack in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle and may reduce the voltage input from the battery pack. In this case, the wiring connecting the battery pack and the voltage converter can be shortened.

[0018] The saddle-type vehicle may further include a power unit and a voltage converter. The power unit may be driven by power from a battery pack. The voltage converter may reduce the voltage input from the battery pack. The battery pack may have a battery pack body, a third connection, a fourth connection, and a fifth connection. The third connection may be connected to wiring that electrically connects the battery pack body and the power unit. The fourth connection may be connected to wiring that electrically connects the battery pack body and the voltage converter. The fifth connection may be connected to a signal line. At least one of the third, fourth, and fifth connection may be located on the front of the battery pack body. In this case, wiring to the power unit, wiring to the voltage converter, or signal lines can be easily connected to the battery pack.

[0019] The battery pack may have a battery pack body and a first connection part. The first connection part may be connected to wiring that electrically connects the charger and the battery pack body. At least two of the first, third, fourth, and fifth connection parts may be located on the front of the battery pack body. The connection direction of at least some of the wiring of the multiple connection parts located on the front of the battery pack body may be different. In this case, multiple wires can be easily connected on the front of the battery pack body because the wiring directions are different.

[0020] The tunnel may be positioned between a pair of upper frames and a pair of lower frames in the vehicle width direction. In this case, the battery pack and charger can be placed in the space formed between the pair of upper frames and the pair of lower frames in the vehicle width direction, thereby improving layout efficiency.

[0021] According to the present invention, a saddle-type vehicle can be efficiently laid out.

[0022] This is a side view of a saddle-type vehicle according to an embodiment. This is a top view of a saddle-type vehicle. This is a front view of a saddle-type vehicle. This is a perspective view of the vehicle body frame and the power system near the vehicle body frame of a saddle-type vehicle, viewed from the front left. This is a perspective view of the vehicle body frame and the power system near the vehicle body frame of a saddle-type vehicle, viewed from the rear left. This is a left side view showing the vehicle body frame and the power system near the vehicle body frame of a saddle-type vehicle. This is a front view showing the vehicle body frame and the power system near the vehicle body frame of a saddle-type vehicle. This is a schematic cross-sectional view between A and B in Figure 1. This is a perspective view of the power unit, external power connection, charger, battery pack, and voltage converter of a saddle-type vehicle, viewed from the rear right. This is a perspective view of the power unit, external power connection, charger, battery pack, and voltage converter of a saddle-type vehicle, viewed from the front left. This is a left side view of the power unit, external power connection, charger, battery pack, and voltage converter of a saddle-type vehicle. This is a plan view of the power unit, external power connection section, charger, battery pack, and voltage converter of a saddle-type vehicle. This is an enlarged perspective view of the vicinity of the charger of the saddle-type vehicle.

[0023] Hereinafter, a saddle-type vehicle 1 according to an embodiment will be described with reference to the drawings. Figure 1 is a side view of the saddle-type vehicle 1. Figure 2 is a top view of the saddle-type vehicle 1. Figure 3 is a front view of the saddle-type vehicle 1. As shown in Figures 1 to 3, the saddle-type vehicle 1 is, for example, a scooter-type vehicle. The saddle-type vehicle 1 runs by rotating an electric motor with electricity stored in a battery pack.

[0024] As shown in Figures 1 to 3, the saddle-type vehicle 1 includes a body frame 2, a steering device 3, front wheels 4, a seat 5, a power unit 6, rear wheels 7, and a body cover 8. In the following description, the forward, backward, left, and right directions refer to the directions as viewed from the driver seated on the seat 5.

[0025] Figure 4 is a front perspective view of the vehicle body frame 2 and the power system configuration near the vehicle body frame 2 of the saddle-type vehicle 1. Figure 5 is a perspective view of the vehicle body frame 2 and the power system configuration near the vehicle body frame 2 of the saddle-type vehicle 1. Figure 6 is a side view of the vehicle body frame 2 and the power system configuration near the vehicle body frame 2 of the saddle-type vehicle 1. Figure 7 is a front view of the vehicle body frame 2 and the power system configuration near the vehicle body frame 2 of the saddle-type vehicle 1. As shown in Figures 4 to 6, the vehicle body frame 2 includes a head pipe 11, a down frame 12, a lower frame 13, an upper frame 14, a seat frame 15, and a rear frame 16.

[0026] The head pipe 11 is located in the center of the vehicle in the vehicle width direction (left-right direction). The head pipe 11 extends forward and downward.

[0027] The down frame 12 extends downward from the head pipe 11, as shown in Figures 4 and 5. The down frame 12 includes a pair of first down frames 12a and second down frames 12b. The first down frame 12a extends to the left and downward from the head pipe 11. The second down frame 12b extends to the right and downward from the head pipe 11.

[0028] The lower frame 13 extends rearward from the lower part of the down frame 12, as shown in Figures 4 and 5. The lower frame 13 includes a pair of first lower frames 13a and second lower frames 13b. The first lower frame 13a is positioned to the left of the vehicle's centerline A (see Figure 2) in a top view of the vehicle. The first lower frame 13a extends rearward from the lower part of the first down frame 12a. The first lower frame 13a does not intersect the vehicle's centerline A in a top view of the vehicle. The second lower frame 13b is positioned to the right of the vehicle's centerline A in a top view of the vehicle. The second lower frame 13b extends rearward from the lower part of the second down frame 12b. The second lower frame 13b does not intersect the vehicle's centerline A in a top view of the vehicle.

[0029] As shown in Figures 4 and 5, the upper frame 14 extends rearward from the down frame 12. The upper frame 14 is positioned above the lower frame 13. The upper frame 14 includes a pair of first upper frames 14a and second upper frames 14b. The first upper frame 14a is positioned to the left of the vehicle's centerline A in a plan view of the vehicle. The first upper frame 14a is positioned above the first lower frame 13a. The first upper frame 14a extends rearward from the first down frame 12a. The first upper frame 14a extends rearward from the first down frame 12a and extends inclined to the rearward and downward at the bent portion 14ae. The first lower frame 13a does not intersect with the vehicle's centerline A in a plan view of the vehicle. The second upper frame 14b is positioned to the right of the vehicle's centerline in a plan view of the vehicle. The second upper frame 14b is positioned above the second lower frame 13b. The second upper frame 14b extends rearward from the second down frame 12b. The second upper frame 14b extends rearward from the second down frame 12b and inclins rearward and downward at the bent portion (not shown). The second upper frame 14b does not intersect the vehicle's centerline A in a plan view of the vehicle.

[0030] As shown in Figures 4 and 5, the seat frame 15 extends rearward and upward from the upper frame 14. The seat frame 15 includes a pair of first seat frames 15a and second seat frames 15b, and a third seat frame 25c. The first seat frame 15a extends rearward and upward from the front of the bent portion 14ae of the first upper frame 14a. The second seat frame 15b extends rearward and upward from the front of the bent portion of the second upper frame 14b. As shown in Figure 4, the third seat frame 15c connects the rear end of the first seat frame 15a and the rear end of the second seat frame 15b. The third seat frame 15c is positioned along the left-right direction.

[0031] The rear frame 16 is connected to the lower frame 13, the upper frame 14, and the seat frame 15. The rear frame 16 includes a pair of first rear frames 16a and second rear frames 16b, and a third rear frame 16c. The first rear frame 16a extends forward and downward from the first seat frame 15a. The rear end of the first upper frame 14a and the rear end of the first lower frame 13a are connected to the first rear frame 16a. The second rear frame 16b extends forward and downward from the second seat frame 15b. The rear end of the second upper frame 14b and the rear end of the second lower frame 13b are connected to the second rear frame 16b. The third rear frame 16c is arranged along the left-right direction. The third rear frame 16c connects the lower end of the first rear frame 16a and the lower end of the second rear frame 16b.

[0032] As shown in Figure 1, the steering device 3 is rotatably supported on the head pipe 11. The steering device 3 rotatably supports the front wheel 4. The steering device 3 includes a front fork 21 and a handle member 22. The front fork 21 is rotatably supported on the head pipe 11. The front wheel 4 is rotatably supported on the front fork 21. The handle member 22 is operable by the driver to rotate the front wheel 4. As shown in Figure 2, the handle member 22 extends in the vehicle width direction.

[0033] As shown in Figure 1, the front fork 21 includes a steering shaft 23, a bracket 24, a left suspension 25, and a right suspension (not shown). The steering shaft 23 is inserted into the head pipe 11. The bracket 24 is connected to the steering shaft 23, the left suspension 25, and the right suspension. The left suspension 25 and the right suspension rotatably support the front wheel 4. A front fender 9 is positioned above the front wheel 4. The front fender 9 is connected to the bracket 24.

[0034] The seat 5 is located behind the head pipe 11. The seat 5 is located above the seat frame 15. The seat 5 is supported by the seat frame 15 via stays (not shown) and a storage box 10 (described later). The seat 5 is rotatable upward at its rear end, with its front end being the axis in the width direction. The power unit 6 is located below the seat 5. The power unit 6 includes an electric motor. The rear wheel 7 is rotatably supported by the power unit 6.

[0035] As shown in Figure 1, the vehicle body cover 8 includes a front cover 31, a front side cover 32, a leg shield 33, a rear side cover 34, an upper cover 35, a footrest 36, and a bottom cover 37.

[0036] The front cover 31 is fixed to the vehicle frame 2. The front cover 31, front side covers 32, and leg shields 33 cover the area around the head pipe 11 and down frame 12.

[0037] As shown in Figures 1 and 2, the front cover 31 is positioned in front of the head pipe 11 and the down frame 12. The front lights 38 are located at the bottom of the front cover 31. As shown in Figure 3, a space is provided between the front cover 31 and the front fender 9, forming an opening 39 through which air flows in during driving. The opening 39 is located in front of the lower part of the head pipe 11.

[0038] The front side cover 32 is positioned to the side of the head pipe 11 and the down frame 12. The front side cover 32 includes a pair of first front side covers 32a and second front side covers 32b. The first front side cover 32a is positioned to the left of the head pipe 11 and the first down frame 12a. The second front side cover 32b is positioned to the right of the head pipe 11 and the first down frame 12a.

[0039] The leg shield 33 is positioned behind the head pipe 11 and the down frame 12. The leg shield 33 includes a pair of first leg shields 33a and second leg shields 33b, as shown in Figure 2. The first leg shield 33a is positioned to the left of the center line A. The first leg shield 33a is positioned behind the first down frame 12a. The second leg shield 33b is positioned to the right of the center line A. The second leg shield 33b is positioned behind the second down frame 12b.

[0040] The rear side cover 34 covers the upper frame 14 and the seat frame 15 from the side. The rear side cover 34 is located below the seat 5. The rear side cover 34 includes a pair of first rear side covers 34a and second rear side covers 34b, as shown in Figure 2. Figure 8 is a schematic cross-sectional view between AA in Figure 1. The first rear side cover 34a covers the first upper frame 14a and the first seat frame 15a from the left. The second rear side cover 34b covers the second upper frame 14b and the second seat frame 15b from the right.

[0041] As shown in Figure 1, the upper cover 35 is positioned on the front side of the seat 5. As shown in Figures 1 and 8, the upper cover 35 is positioned above the rear side cover 34. As shown in Figure 8, the upper cover 35 is positioned between the first rear side cover 34a and the second rear side cover 34b in the left-right direction.

[0042] As shown in Figures 2 and 8, the footrest 36 is located outside the rear side cover 34 in the left-right direction. The rider rests their feet on the footrest 36. As shown in Figure 8, the footrest 36 is located above the lower frame 13. The footrest 36 covers the lower frame 13 from above. As shown in Figure 2, the footrest 36 is located between the leg shield 33 and the seat 5 in the front-rear direction. The footrest 36 includes a pair of first footrests 36a and second footrests 36b. As shown in Figure 2, the first footrest 36a is located on the left side of the first rear side cover 34a. As shown in Figure 8, the first footrest 36a covers the first lower frame 13a from above. As shown in Figure 2, the second footrest 36b is located on the right side of the second rear side cover 34b. As shown in Figure 8, the second footrest 36b covers the second lower frame 13b from above.

[0043] As shown in Figure 8, the bottom cover 37 is positioned below the lower frame 13. The bottom cover 37 covers the lower frame 13 from below. The bottom cover 37 is positioned below the footrest 36. The lower frame 13 is covered from above and below by the bottom cover 37 and the footrest 36.

[0044] As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the straddle-type vehicle 1 includes an external power supply connection portion 41, a charger 42, a battery pack 43, a voltage converter 44, and a radiator 45. FIG. 9 is a perspective view of the power unit 6, the external power supply connection portion 41, the charger 42, the battery pack 43, and the voltage converter 44 viewed from the right rear. FIG. 10 is a perspective view of the power unit 6, the external power supply connection portion 41, the charger 42, the battery pack 43, and the voltage converter 44 viewed from the left front. FIG. 11 is a left side view of the power unit 6, the external power supply connection portion 41, the charger 42, the battery pack 43, and the voltage converter 44. FIG. 12 is a plan view of the power unit 6, the external power supply connection portion 41, the charger 42, the battery pack 43, and the voltage converter 44. The external power supply connection portion 41 is connected to an external power supply for charging. The charger 42 converts the alternating current supplied from the external power supply connection portion 41 into direct current. The battery pack 43 stores the direct current supplied from the charger 42. The voltage converter 44 reduces the voltage input from the battery pack 43.

[0045] The straddle-type vehicle 1 includes a first wiring 51, a second wiring 52, a third wiring 53, a fourth wiring 54, and a signal line 55. The first wiring 51 electrically connects the external power supply connection portion 41 and the charger 42. As shown in FIG. 10, the second wiring 52 electrically connects the charger 42 and the battery pack 43. The third wiring 53 electrically connects the battery pack 43 and the voltage converter 44. The fourth wiring 54 electrically connects the battery pack 43 and the power unit 6. The signal line 55 is a line for inputting and outputting signals and is connected to the battery pack 43.

[0046] The external power connection section 41 is an inlet. The external power connection section 41 can be connected to an external AC power source to supply AC current from an external source to the charger 42. As shown in Figures 5 and 7, the external power connection section 41 is located on the outside of the down frame 12 in the left-right direction. The external power connection section 41 is located on the left side of the first down frame 12a. As shown in Figure 6, in a side view, a part of the external power connection section 41 overlaps with the head pipe 11. The part of the external power connection section 41 to which the external power cord is connected faces backward. In Figure 5, the part to which the power cord is connected is covered by a cover 41a. The first wiring 51 extends downward from the external power connection section 41 and then backward to connect to the charger 42 from the front.

[0047] As shown in Figures 4 to 6 and 8, the charger 42 is positioned above the upper frame 14. The charger 42 is positioned above the pair of first upper frames 14a and second upper frames 14b. As shown in Figure 7, in a front view, the charger 42 is positioned so that at least a portion of it overlaps with the head pipe 11. In Figure 7, the outline of the charger 42 is shown by a dotted line. In the left-right direction of the vehicle, as shown in Figure 8, the charger 42 is positioned between the first upper frame 14a and the second upper frame 14b. The charger 42 is positioned on the upper surface 43a of the battery pack 43, which will be described later. As shown in Figures 6 and 7, the charger 42 is covered from above by an upper cover 35. In Figure 6, the upper cover 35 is shown by a dashed line, indicating the internal structure of the upper cover 35. As shown in Figure 6, the saddle-type vehicle 1 further includes a storage box 10 below the seat 5. The charger 42 is positioned in front of the storage box 10.

[0048] As shown in FIGS. 9 and 10, the charger 42 includes a charger body 60, an external connection portion 61 (an example of a second connection portion), a battery pack connection portion 62 (an example of a second connection portion), and a cooling portion 63. The charger body 60 is box-shaped. As shown in FIGS. 10 and 11, the external connection portion 61 is disposed on the front surface 60a of the charger body 60. A first wiring 51 that electrically connects the external power supply connection portion 41 and the charger body 60 is connected to the external connection portion 61. The charger-side connector 51a of the first wiring 51 is connected to the external connection portion 61 from the front. The battery pack connection portion 62 is disposed on the front surface 60a of the charger body 60. The battery pack connection portion 62 is arranged side by side with the external connection portion 61 in the left-right direction. In FIG. 6, since the external connection portion 61 overlaps the battery pack connection portion 62, the reference numeral is shown in parentheses. The battery pack connection portion 62 is disposed on the left side of the external connection portion 61. A second wiring 52 that electrically connects the battery pack 43 and the charger body 60 is connected to the battery pack connection portion 62. The charger-side connector 52a of the second wiring 52 is connected to the battery pack connection portion 62 from the front. As shown in FIG. 13 described later, the charger 42 is fastened to the upper surface 43a of the battery pack 43, for example, by bolts 91.

[0049] The cooling portion 63 cools the charger body 60. The cooling portion 63 is an air-cooled cooler. FIG. 13 is a perspective view showing the vicinity of the charger 42. The cooling portion 63 includes a housing 63a, a cooling fan 63b, and cooling fins 63c. The housing 63a is box-shaped. The housing 63a houses the cooling fan 63b and the cooling fins 63c. The air sucked into the housing 63a by the cooling fan 63b exchanges heat with the charger body 60 at the cooling fins 63c and is discharged. Note that the cooling fan 63b may not be provided, and only the cooling fins 63c may be sufficient.

[0050] The battery pack 43 stores the DC current supplied from the charger 42. The battery pack 43 is located below the charger 42. As shown in Figures 4 to 6, the battery pack 43 is attached to the upper frame 14 and the lower frame 13 via brackets. The battery pack 43 is located between a pair of first upper frames 14a and second upper frames 14b, and between a pair of first lower frames 13a and second lower frames 13b.

[0051] As shown in Figure 6, the upper surface 43a of the battery pack 43 is positioned above the upper frame 14, and the lower surface 43b of the battery pack 43 is positioned below the lower frame 13.

[0052] As shown in Figures 11 and 12, the length of the charger 42 in the vehicle longitudinal direction is shorter than the length of the battery pack 43 in the vehicle longitudinal direction. The charger 42 is positioned near the rear end 43ae of the upper surface 43a of the battery pack 43.

[0053] As shown in Figure 10, the battery pack 43 includes a battery pack body 70, a charger connection section 71 (an example of a first connection section), a voltage converter connection section 72 (an example of a fourth connection section), a power unit connection section 73 (an example of a third connection section), and a signal line connection section 74 (an example of a fifth connection section). The top surface 43a of the battery pack 43 described above is the top surface of the battery pack body 70. The battery pack body 70 contains multiple batteries. The battery pack body 70 is box-shaped. The charger connection section 71 is located on the front surface 70a of the battery pack body 70. The second wiring 52, which electrically connects the battery pack body 70 and the charger 42, is connected to the charger connection section 71. The battery pack side connector 52b of the second wiring 52 is connected to the charger connection section 71 from above. As shown in Figure 11, the charger connection portion 71 is positioned below the lower end 41b of the external connection portion 61, the battery pack connection portion 62, and the external power supply connection portion 41.

[0054] The voltage converter connection section 72 is connected to the third wiring 53, which electrically connects the battery pack body 70 and the voltage converter 44. The battery pack side connector 53a of the third wiring 53 is connected to the voltage converter connection section 72 from above. The power unit connection section 73 is connected to the fourth wiring 54, which electrically connects the battery pack body 70 and the power unit 6. The battery pack side connector 54a of the fourth wiring 54 is connected to the power unit connection section 73 from below. The connector 55a of the signal wire 55 is connected to the signal wire connection section 74 from the front.

[0055] As shown in Figure 10, the charger connection section 71, the power unit connection section 73, and the voltage converter connection section 72 are arranged in that order from left to right. The second wire 52 is connected to the charger connection section 71 from above, the fourth wire 54 is connected to the power unit connection section 73 from below, and the third wire 53 is connected to the voltage converter connection section 72 from above. By reversing the connection direction of the wires at adjacent connection sections in this way, wiring can be made easier.

[0056] As shown in Figure 11, the voltage converter 44 is located on the rear side of the battery pack 43. The voltage converter 44 is located near the top surface 43a of the battery pack 43. As shown in Figure 12, the voltage converter side connector 53b of the third wiring 53 is connected to the voltage converter 44. As shown in Figure 11, the power unit 6 is located below the voltage converter 44. The power unit side connector 54b of the fourth wiring 54 is connected to the power unit 6. As shown in Figure 7, a radiator 45 for cooling the power unit 6 is located on the front side of the battery pack 43. In a front view, the radiator 45 overlaps with a part of the battery pack 43. The power unit 6 is cooled by the coolant cooled by the radiator 45.

[0057] The battery pack 43 and charger 42 described above are located in the internal space of the tunnel T, which runs along the longitudinal direction of the vehicle. As shown in Figure 8, the tunnel T is located in the vehicle width direction between a pair of first lower frames 13a and second lower frames 13b and a pair of first upper frames 14a and second upper frames 14b. The first lower frame 13a is located further outward in the vehicle width direction than the first upper frame 14a, and the second lower frame 13b is located further outward in the vehicle width direction than the second upper frame 14b. Therefore, the tunnel T is wider at the bottom than at the top. In Figure 8, the charger 42 and battery pack 43 are shown in a simplified manner for clarity. As shown in Figure 1, in a side view, the tunnel T is located in front of the front end 5a of the seat 5 and behind the front end 36f of the footrest 36, and is an internal space enclosed by the vehicle body cover 8.

[0058] The tunnel T is positioned along the longitudinal direction of the vehicle. The tunnel T is formed from a pair of first down frames 12a and second down frames 12b towards the rear. In Figure 2, the tunnel T is shown by a dotted line. As shown in Figure 2, the tunnel T is positioned between the leg shield 33 and the seat 5, and between a pair of first footrests 36a and second footrests 36b. As shown in Figure 8, the tunnel T is the region enclosed by a pair of first rear side covers 34a and second rear side covers 34b, an upper cover 35, a first footrest 36a, a second footrest 36b, and a bottom cover 37.

[0059] As the saddle-type vehicle 1 moves, cooling air is drawn into the tunnel T through the opening 39 between the front cover 31 and the front fender 9, and moves backward within the tunnel T (see arrow F in Figure 6). Since the charger 42 is located inside the tunnel T, cooling air is more easily supplied to the cooling unit 63. In addition, the battery pack 43 is also cooled by the cooling air drawn into the tunnel T.

[0060] In Figure 6, in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle, the external power connection section 41, the battery pack connection section 62, and the charger connection section 71 are located in region R between the front end 11a of the head pipe 11 and the center of the battery pack 43. Region R is, in a side view, the area between the vertical line L1 passing through the front end 11a of the head pipe 11 and the vertical line L2 passing through the center of the front end 43f and rear end 43r of the battery pack 43. The external power connection section 41 is located above and in front of the external connection section 61 and the battery pack connection section 62.

[0061] In the saddle-type vehicle 1 according to this embodiment described above, the charger 42 and the battery pack 43 are arranged in the internal space of the tunnel T that runs along the longitudinal direction of the vehicle. By arranging the battery pack 43 and the charger 42 in the internal space of the tunnel T in this way, an efficient layout can be achieved.

[0062] In the saddle-type vehicle 1 of this embodiment, as shown in Figure 10, the charger connection part 71 is located on the front surface 70a of the battery pack body 70. This allows the second wiring 52, which connects to the charger 42, to be easily connected to the battery pack 43.

[0063] In the saddle-type vehicle 1 of this embodiment, as shown in Figure 11, the charger connection section 71 is positioned below the external connection section 61, the battery pack connection section 62, and the lower end 41b of the external power connection section 41. This makes it possible to bring the external power connection section 41 and the battery pack 43 closer together in the front-rear direction of the vehicle, and to bring the external power connection section 41 and the charger 42 closer together, thereby suppressing an increase in the wheelbase.

[0064] In the saddle-type vehicle 1 of this embodiment, as shown in Figure 11, the first wiring 51 and the second wiring 52 are connected from the front to the external connection part 61 and the battery pack connection part 62. This allows the first wiring 51 and the second wiring 52, which connect to the external power supply connection part 41 and the battery pack 43, to be easily connected to the charger 42.

[0065] In the saddle-type vehicle 1 of this embodiment, the external power connection section 41 is located outside the down frame 12 in the vehicle width direction, as shown in Figure 7. This prevents the wheelbase from becoming longer in the vehicle's longitudinal direction.

[0066] In the saddle-type vehicle 1 of this embodiment, as shown in Figure 11, the external power connection section 41 is positioned above and in front of the external connection section 61 and the battery pack connection section 62. This makes it possible to bring the external power connection section 41 and the charger 42 closer together, thereby suppressing an increase in the wheelbase in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle.

[0067] In the saddle-type vehicle 1 of this embodiment, as shown in Figure 6, the external power connection part 41, the charger connection part 71, and the external connection part 61 and battery pack connection part 62 are arranged in the region R between the front end 11a of the head pipe 11 and the center of the battery pack 43 in the front-rear direction of the vehicle. This makes it easier to route the wiring of the external power connection part 41, the charger 42, and the battery pack 43, and also reduces the length of each wire.

[0068] In the saddle-type vehicle 1 of this embodiment, as shown in Figure 10, the charger 42 is positioned above the battery pack 43. This makes it possible to suppress an increase in the wheelbase in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle.

[0069] In the saddle-type vehicle 1 of this embodiment, as shown in Figure 6, the charger 42 is positioned in front of the storage box 10. This allows the space in front of the storage box 10 to be utilized, improving layout efficiency.

[0070] In the saddle-type vehicle 1 of this embodiment, as shown in Figure 11, the charger 42 has a length in the vehicle's longitudinal direction that is shorter than the battery pack 43. The charger 42 is positioned near the rear end 43ae of the upper surface 43a of the battery pack 43. This makes it possible to suppress an increase in the wheelbase in the vehicle's longitudinal direction.

[0071] In the saddle-type vehicle 1 of this embodiment, as shown in Figure 13, the external connection part 61 and the battery pack connection part 62 are located on the front surface 60a of the charger body 60. This allows the first wiring 51 and the second wiring 52, which connect to the external power supply connection part 41 and the battery pack 43, to be easily connected to the charger 42.

[0072] In the saddle-type vehicle 1 of this embodiment, as shown in Figures 4 and 5, the charger 42 is positioned above the pair of first upper frames 14a and second upper frames 14b. By positioning the charger 42 above the upper frames 14 in this way, it is possible to suppress an increase in the wheelbase in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle.

[0073] The saddle-type vehicle 1 of this embodiment is positioned in front of the lower part of the head pipe 11 and includes an opening 39 (see Figure 3) that takes in cooling air into the tunnel T. As shown in Figure 7, when viewed from the front, the charger 42 is positioned so that at least a portion of it overlaps with the head pipe 11. As shown in Figure 13, the charger 42 includes a charger body 60 and a cooling fan 63b. The cooling fan 63b cools the charger body 60. As a result, the inside of the tunnel T becomes an air passage, which allows for both the function of guiding air to the cooling fan 63b and dissipating heat from the charger 42, and the efficiency of the charger 42's layout. Furthermore, because the inside of the tunnel T becomes an air passage, the cooling efficiency of the battery pack 43 and the charger 42 can be improved.

[0074] In the saddle-type vehicle 1 of this embodiment, as shown in Figure 11, the voltage converter 44 is located on the rear side of the battery pack 43 in the front-rear direction of the vehicle. This allows the wiring connecting the battery pack 43 and the voltage converter 44 to be shortened.

[0075] In the saddle-type vehicle 1 of this embodiment, as shown in Figure 10, the power unit connection section 73, the voltage converter connection section 72, and the signal line connection section 74 are located on the front surface 70a of the battery pack body 70. This allows for easy connection of the fourth wiring 54 to the power unit 6, the third wiring 53 to the voltage converter 44, or the signal line 55 to the battery pack 43.

[0076] In the saddle-type vehicle 1 of this embodiment, as shown in Figure 10, the charger connection section 71, the power unit connection section 73, the voltage converter connection section 72, and the signal line connection section 74 are located on the front surface 70a of the battery pack body 70. At least some of the wiring of the charger connection section 71, the power unit connection section 73, the voltage converter connection section 72, and the signal line connection section 74 are connected in different directions. Because the wiring directions are different in this way, multiple wires can be easily connected on the front surface 70a of the battery pack body 70.

[0077] In the saddle-type vehicle 1 of this embodiment, as shown in Figures 4 and 5, the tunnel T is positioned between a pair of first upper frames 14a and second upper frames 14b and a pair of first lower frames 13a and second lower frames 13b in the vehicle width direction. This allows the battery pack 43 and charger 42 to be placed in the space (tunnel T) formed between the pair of first upper frames 14a and second upper frames 14b and the pair of first lower frames 13a and second lower frames 13b in the vehicle width direction, thereby improving layout efficiency.

[0078] In the saddle-type vehicle 1 of this embodiment, as shown in Figure 2, the tunnel T is located between the pair of first leg shields 33a and second leg shields 33b and the seat 5, and between the pair of first footrests 36a and second footrests 36b. In this case, the battery pack 43 and charger 42 can be placed in the space (tunnel T) formed between the pair of first leg shields 33a and second leg shields 33b and the seat 5, and between the pair of first footrests 36a and second footrests 36b, thereby improving layout efficiency.

[0079] Although one embodiment of the present invention has been described above, the present invention is not limited to the above embodiment, and various modifications are possible without departing from the spirit of the invention.

[0080] The configuration of the saddle-type vehicle 1 is not limited to that of the embodiment described above and may be modified. For example, although the power unit connection section 73, the voltage converter connection section 72, and the signal line connection section 74 are all located on the front surface 70a of the battery pack body 70, this is not limited to this configuration, and at least one of the power unit connection section 73, the voltage converter connection section 72, and the signal line connection section 74 may be located on the front surface 70a.

[0081] In the above embodiment, the tunnel T is formed so that its width increases as it goes downwards, but it is not limited to this, and its width may be the same in the vertical direction.

[0082] In the above embodiment, the external power connection unit 41 is located on the left side of the head pipe 11, but it is not limited to this and may be located on the right side.

[0083] In the above embodiment, the charger 42 is positioned on the upper surface 43a of the battery pack 43. However, the charger 42 does not have to be positioned directly on the upper surface 43a; it may be positioned between the charger 42 and the upper surface 43a via a separate component.

[0084] According to the present invention, a saddle-type vehicle can be efficiently laid out.

[0085] 1: Saddle-type vehicle, 2: Body frame, 3: Steering device, 4: Front wheel, 5: Seat, 6: Power unit, 7: Rear wheel, 8: Body cover, 9: Front fender, 10: Storage box, 11: Head pipe, 11a: Front end, 12: Down frame, 12a: First down frame, 12b: Second down frame, 13: Lower frame, 13a: First lower frame, 13b: Second lower frame, 14: Upper frame, 14a: First upper frame, 14ae: Bent section, 14b: Second upper frame, 15: Seat frame, 15a: 15b: First seat frame, 16: Second seat frame, 16: Rear frame, 16a: First rear frame, 16b: Second rear frame, 16c: Third rear frame, 18: Steering shaft, 19: Bracket, 21: Front fork, 22: Handlebar component, 23: Steering shaft, 24: Bracket, 25: Left suspension, 31: Front cover, 32: Front side cover, 32a: First front side cover, 32b: Second front side cover, 33: Leg shield, 33a: First leg shield, 33b: Second leg shield Gold, 34: Rear side cover, 34a: First rear side cover, 34b: Second rear side cover, 35: Upper cover, 36: Footrest, 36a: First footrest, 36b: Second footrest, 37: Bottom cover, 38: Front light, 39: Opening, 41: External power connection part, 41a: Cover, 41b: Lower end, 42: Charger, 43: Battery pack, 43a: Top surface, 43ae: Rear end, 43b: Bottom surface, 44: Voltage converter, 45: Radiator, 51: First wiring, 51a: Charger side connector, 52: Second wiring, 52a: Charger side connector, 53: Third wiring, 53a: Battery pack side connector, 53b: Voltage converter side connector, 54: Fourth wiring, 54a: Battery pack side connector, 54b: Power unit side connector, 55: Signal line, 55a: Connector, 60: Charger body, 60a: Front, 61: External connection part, 62: Battery pack connection part, 63: Cooling part, 63a: Housing, 63b: Cooling fan, 63c: Cooling passage, 63d: Inlet, 70: Battery pack body, 70a: Front, 71: Charger connection part, 72: Voltage converter connection part, 73: Power unit connection part, 74: Signal line connection part, T: Tunnel

Claims

It is a scooter-type saddle-type vehicle, A charger that converts external AC current to DC current, A battery pack supplied with direct current from the aforementioned charger, Head pipe and, A leg shield positioned behind the head pipe, A pair of footrests positioned behind the leg shield, A seat positioned behind the pair of footrests, A pair of down frames extending downward from the head pipe, An upper frame extending rearward from each of the pair of down frames, It comprises a lower frame positioned below the upper frame and extending rearward from each of the pair of down frames, A tunnel is formed between the leg shield and the seat, and between the pair of footrests. The charger and the battery pack are arranged in the internal space of the tunnel along the longitudinal direction of the vehicle. The charger is positioned above the battery pack, The charger is positioned above the pair of upper frames. A saddle-type vehicle. 　 The aforementioned battery pack is The battery pack itself, It has a first connection part to which wiring is connected that electrically connects the charger and the battery pack body, The first connection part is located on the front of the battery pack body. A saddle-type vehicle as described in claim 1. 　 The charger is further provided with an external power supply connection section that can be connected to an external AC power source in order to supply AC current from an external source. The aforementioned battery pack is The battery pack itself, It has a first connection part to which wiring is connected that electrically connects the charger and the battery pack body, The aforementioned charger, The charger unit and It has the aforementioned external power connection part and a second connection part to which wiring that electrically connects the battery pack body and the charger body is connected, The first connection portion is positioned below the lower end of the second connection portion and the external power supply connection portion. A saddle-type vehicle as described in claim 1. 　 The charger is further provided with an external power supply connection section that can be connected to an external AC power source in order to supply AC current from an external source. The aforementioned charger, The charger unit and It has the aforementioned external power connection part and a second connection part to which wiring that electrically connects the battery pack and the charger body is connected, The wiring is connected to the second connection part from the front. A saddle-type vehicle as described in claim 1. 　 The charger is equipped with an external power supply connection section that can be connected to an external AC power source in order to supply AC current from an external source. The external power connection section is located on the outside of the down frame in the vehicle width direction. A saddle-type vehicle as described in claim 1. The charger is further provided with an external power supply connection section that can be connected to an external AC power source in order to supply AC current from an external source. The aforementioned charger, The charger unit and It has the aforementioned external power connection part and a second connection part to which wiring that electrically connects the battery pack and the charger body is connected, The external power connection section is located above and in front of the second connection section. A saddle-type vehicle as described in claim 1. 　 The external power connection section is positioned above and in front of the second connection section. In the vehicle's longitudinal direction, the external power connection section, the first connection section, and the second connection section are located in the region between the front end of the head pipe and the center of the battery pack. A saddle-type vehicle as described in claim 3. 　 The system further comprises a storage box located beneath the aforementioned seat, The charger is located in front of the storage box. A saddle-type vehicle as described in claim 1. 　 The charger has a length in the vehicle's longitudinal direction that is shorter than the battery pack. The charger is located near the rear end of the upper surface of the battery pack. A saddle-type vehicle as described in claim 1. 　 The charger is further provided with an external power supply connection section that can be connected to an external AC power source in order to supply AC current to the charger. The aforementioned charger, The charger unit and It has the aforementioned external power connection part and a second connection part to which wiring that electrically connects the battery pack and the charger body is connected, The second connection part is located on the front of the charger body. A saddle-type vehicle as described in claim 9. 　 The head pipe is located in the lower front part and further includes an opening for taking in cooling air into the tunnel, Viewed from the front, the charger is positioned such that at least a portion of it overlaps with the head pipe. The aforementioned charger, The charger unit and The charger body has a cooling fan for cooling the charger body, A saddle-type vehicle as described in claim 1. 　 In the longitudinal direction of the vehicle, the vehicle further comprises a voltage converter positioned behind the battery pack, which reduces the voltage input from the battery pack. A saddle-type vehicle as described in claim 1. 　 A power unit driven by power from the aforementioned battery pack, The system further comprises a voltage converter that reduces the voltage input from the aforementioned battery pack, The aforementioned battery pack is The battery pack itself, A third connection point to which wiring is connected that electrically connects the battery pack body and the power unit, A fourth connection section to which wiring is connected that electrically connects the battery pack body and the voltage converter, It has a fifth connection part to which a signal line is connected, At least one of the third connection portion, the fourth connection portion, and the fifth connection portion is located on the front of the battery pack body. A saddle-type vehicle as described in claim 1. The aforementioned battery pack is The battery pack further has a first connection part to which wiring is connected that electrically connects the charger and the battery pack body. At least two of the first, third, fourth, and fifth connection parts are located on the front of the battery pack body. At least some of the wiring connections on the front of the battery pack body are in different directions. A saddle-type vehicle according to claim 13. 　 The tunnel is positioned between a pair of upper frames and a pair of lower frames in the vehicle width direction. A saddle-type vehicle as described in claim 1.

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