Saddle-ride type vehicle

Abstract

A saddle-ride type vehicle according to an embodiment comprises: a pair of left and right seat frames (27t); a swingarm (13) that supports the rear wheel (12); a rear cushion (16) that damps a load received from the swingarm (13); and a cushion bracket (60) that connects the left and right seat frames (27t) and is connected to the rear cushion (16). The left and right seat frames (27t) each comprise a frame-side attaching part (65) for attaching the cushion bracket (60). The cushion bracket (60) comprises a bracket-side attaching part (61) that is attached when in contact, from below, with an attaching lower surface (65a) of the frame-side attaching part (65), said attaching lower surface (65a) facing the vehicle lower side. An upper end connecting part (16a) of the rear cushion (16) and connected to the cushion bracket (60) is disposed on the vehicle upper side relative to the attaching lower surface (65a) of the frame-side attaching part (65).

Description

Saddle-riding vehicle

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

[0002] For example, Patent Document 1 discloses a structure in which a bracket supporting a rear cushion is configured separately from a seat frame, and the bracket is attached (fastened) to a lower surface of the seat frame.

[0003] The bracket is formed in a large size to receive a load. When it is desired to move the fastening portion of the bracket upward for the purpose of securing the stroke of the rear cushion, the space under the seat is compressed. For this reason, it has been difficult to make the vehicle width of the straddling portion near the seat compact.

[0004] Japanese Patent No. 6313622

[0005] The present invention provides a saddle-riding vehicle capable of securing cushion stroke while having a compact straddling portion.

[0006] The saddle-riding vehicle according to the embodiment includes a pair of left and right seat frames (27t), a swing arm (13) that supports a rear wheel (12), a rear cushion (16) that buffers a load received from the swing arm (13), and a cushion bracket (60) that connects the left and right seat frames (27t) and is coupled to the rear cushion (16). The left and right seat frames (27t) each include a frame-side fastening portion (65) for fastening the cushion bracket (60). The cushion bracket (60) includes a bracket-side fastening portion (61) that is fastened while abutting from below against a fastening lower surface (65a) facing downward in the vehicle at the frame-side fastening portion (65). An upper end connecting portion (16a) of the rear cushion (16) connected to the cushion bracket (60) is disposed above the fastening lower surface (65a) of the frame-side fastening portion (65) in the vehicle.

[0007] According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a saddle-riding vehicle capable of securing cushion stroke while having a compact straddling portion.

[0008] This is a left side view of the motorcycle according to this embodiment. This is a left side view from Figure 1, with the seat and body cover omitted. This is a left side view showing an enlarged view of the rear of the vehicle body from Figure 1. This is a left side view from Figure 3, with the body cover and seat frame omitted. This is a cross-sectional view of the motorcycle around the rear cushion, taken from the center of the left and right sides of the vehicle body. This is a cross-sectional view taken along line VI-VI in Figure 2. This is a cross-sectional view taken along line VII-VII in Figure 2. This is a cross-sectional view taken along line VIII-VIII in Figure 2. This is a perspective view of the seat frame, etc., of the motorcycle. This is a perspective view of the seat frame, etc., from another direction. This is a bottom view of the seat frame, etc.

[0009] Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. Unless otherwise specified, directions such as front, rear, left, and right in the following description shall be the same as the directions of the vehicle described below. In addition, in the drawings used in the following description, arrows FR indicating the front of the vehicle, LH indicating the left side of the vehicle, UP indicating the top of the vehicle, and CL indicating the left-right center of the vehicle body are shown where appropriate. In this embodiment, "intermediate" means not only the center between the two ends of the object, but also the area inside between the two ends of the object. In the following description, it is assumed that the body of the saddle-type vehicle is stationary, not tilted to the left or right, with a steering angle of 0 degrees, and is in an unloaded state of 1G on a horizontal plane.

[0010] <Overall Vehicle> Figures 1 and 2 show a motorcycle 1 as an example of a saddle-type vehicle. Figure 1 is a left side view of motorcycle 1, and Figure 2 is a left side view of the motorcycle 1 with the body cover 14 removed. As shown in Figures 1 and 2, motorcycle 1 comprises a body frame 10, a front wheel 11, a rear wheel 12, a swing arm 13, a body cover 14, a seat 15, and a rear cushion 16.

[0011] The front wheel 11 is pivotally supported at the lower ends of a pair of front forks 21. The upper parts of the front forks 21 are supported at the front end of the vehicle frame 10 via a steering stem 23 so as to be steerable. A steering handlebar 17 is attached to the upper part of the steering stem 23.

[0012] The vehicle frame 10 comprises a front frame 20 and a rear frame 40. A head pipe 241 is positioned at the front end of the front frame 20. The head pipe 241 supports the steering system components, including the front wheel 11, in a steerable manner. The stem pipe of the steering stem 23 is inserted through the head pipe 241.

[0013] The front frame 20 includes an upper frame 242 and a lower frame 243 that extend rearward from the head pipe 241. The rear frame 40 is positioned further rearward than the front frame 20. The rear frame 40 is provided separately from the front frame 20. Details of the vehicle body frame 10 will be described later.

[0014] The battery case 30 houses a battery 31 that supplies power to the electric motor (hereinafter simply referred to as the motor) 51. The battery case 30 is positioned in front of the rear frame 40. The front upper part of the battery case 30 is connected to the front frame 20.

[0015] The drive unit 50 includes a motor 51 having a stator and rotor, which is powered by the battery 31. The drive unit 50 is positioned in front of the rear frame 40 and behind the battery case 30. The drive unit 50 is connected to the rear frame 40. The drive unit 50 further includes a reduction gear 52 (or transmission) and a PDU (Power Drive Unit) 53.

[0016] The PDU 53, which is a motor driver housed in the drive unit 50, is a control device controlled by an ECU (Electric Control Unit) or the like, which controls the PDU 53. The PDU 53 is located at the front of the drive unit 50.

[0017] The swing arm 13 is located below the rear of the vehicle body. The swing arm 13 extends in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle. The front end of the swing arm 13 is supported so as to be able to swing up and down via a pivot shaft 43 that extends in the vehicle width direction (vehicle left-right direction) in the upper and lower intermediate part of the rear frame 40 of the vehicle body frame 10.

[0018] The rear wheel 12 is rotatably supported at the rear end of the swing arm 13. The rear wheel 12 is connected to the motor 51 via a transmission mechanism (not shown) consisting of an endless member located on the left side of the rear of the vehicle body. In this embodiment, the endless member is a belt-type transmission mechanism utilizing a drive belt.

[0019] The rear cushion 16 is located at the center of the vehicle width direction at the rear of the vehicle body. The rear cushion 16 is an integrated unit comprising a shock absorber with a compression coil spring and a damper. The rear cushion 16 is interposed between the seat frame assembly 27 and the swing arm 13. The upper end 16a of the rear cushion 16 is connected to the seat frame assembly 27 via a cushion bracket 60, which will be described later. The lower end 16b of the rear cushion 16 is connected to the front of the swing arm 13.

[0020] The seat 15 is positioned above the drive unit 50 and the rear frame 40, and behind the top of the battery case 30. The seat 15 is supported from below by a seat frame assembly 27, which is supported by the battery case 30 and the rear frame 40. The seat frame assembly 27 extends upward towards the rear from its front end, which is connected to the battery case 30 and the rear frame 40. The seat 15 is positioned to cover the top of the seat frame assembly 27.

[0021] The seat frame assembly 27 comprises two separate left and right frame bodies 27t (seat frame 27t, described later). The left and right frame bodies 27t are spaced apart from each other in the vehicle width direction and are integrally connected via cross members 33, etc., that extend in the vehicle width direction. The front end of the seat frame assembly 27 is fastened to the rear upper end of the battery case 30 and the upper end of the rear frame 40. Details of the seat frame assembly 27 will be described later.

[0022] The body cover 14 covers the body frame 10, etc. The body cover 14 is made of, for example, synthetic resin. The body cover 14 covers the upper part of the front frame 20 and the upper part of the battery case 30 from above and on both the left and right sides.

[0023] <Body Frame 10> Next, the structure of the body frame 10 of this embodiment will be described in detail. As shown in Figure 2, the body frame 10 of the motorcycle 1 of this embodiment includes a front frame 20 connected to the front of the battery case 30 and supporting the front wheel suspension system components, and a rear frame 40 connected to the rear of the battery case 30 and supporting the rear wheel suspension system components so that they can swing around a pivot axis 43. The front frame 20 and the rear frame 40 are provided spaced apart in the front-rear direction with the battery case 30 in between.

[0024] The front frame 20 is connected to the front upper part of the battery case 30. The front frame 20 includes a head pipe 241, a pair of left and right upper frames 242 that extend rearward from the top of the head pipe 241 and are connected to the upper connection part of the battery case 30, and a pair of left and right lower frames 243 that extend downward and rearward from the bottom of the head pipe 241 below the upper frames 242 and are connected to the front connection part provided on the front of the battery case 30.

[0025] The pair of upper frames 242 extend outward in the vehicle width direction, spaced apart from each other as they move from front to rear. The rear end of each upper frame 242 is provided with a battery case upper fastening point 24a, which is fastened to the battery case 30. Bolts are inserted through the battery case upper fastening points 24a, which are screwed into the battery case 30. The battery case upper fastening points 24a connect the front frame 20 and the upper part of the battery case 30 to each other.

[0026] A pair of lower frames 243 extend outward in the vehicle width direction, spaced apart from each other as they move from front to rear. The rear end of each lower frame 243 is provided with a battery case front fastening point 24b, which is fastened to the battery case 30. Bolts are inserted through the battery case front fastening points 24b, which are then screwed into the battery case 30. The battery case front fastening points 24b connect the front frame 20 and the front of the battery case 30 to each other.

[0027] The front frame 20 and the rear frame 40 are positioned diagonally opposite each other in a side view of the battery case 30. The battery case upper side fastening point 24a and the battery case front side fastening point 24b of the front frame 20 are fastened to the front upper part of the battery case 30. The first battery fastening point 40b and the second battery fastening point 40c of the rear frame 40, which will be described later, are fastened to the rear lower part of the battery case 30.

[0028] In a side view, the front frame 20 is supported on the front upper part of the battery case 30 at the first point where a horizontal line L3 passing through the upper battery case fastening point 24a intersects with a vertical line L4 passing through the front battery case fastening point 24b. The rear frame 40 is supported on the rear lower part of the battery case 30 at the second point where a vertical line L5 passing through the first battery fastening point 40b intersects with a horizontal line L6 passing through the second battery fastening point 40c.

[0029] The battery case 30 is made of an aluminum alloy. The battery case 30 is formed in a roughly rectangular parallelepiped shape with three directions: front-to-back, up-and-down, and left-to-right. In a side view, the battery case 30 is larger in the up-and-down direction than in the front-to-back direction. The battery case 30 is positioned between the front frame 20 and the rear frame 40.

[0030] The battery case 30 has a rectangular recess 32 cut out in a side view, which extends below the vertical midpoint of the rear surface and behind the front-to-back midpoint of the bottom surface. The front portion of the drive unit 50 is positioned in the recess 32. In a side view, the battery case 30 has a roughly L-shape with a rectangular recess in the lower rear section, and the drive unit 50 is positioned in this recessed portion (recess 32). In a side view, the rear frame 40 is formed in a roughly L-shape so as to cover the area below and behind the recess 32.

[0031] In a side view, the drive unit 50 is positioned in a substantially rectangular area formed between the recess 32 and the rear frame 40. In this embodiment, the drive unit 50 is positioned at least inward from the outer edge (rear edge and lower edge) of the rear frame 40 in a side view. In a side view, the motor drive shaft C1 of the drive unit 50 is positioned in front of and below the pivot shaft 43, and the output shaft C2 of the drive unit 50 is positioned in front of the pivot shaft 43. The output shaft C2 supports a drive pulley (not shown) of a transmission mechanism that drives the rear wheel 12.

[0032] The recess 32 only needs to form a space between itself and the rear frame 40 when viewed from the side, and is not limited to being rectangular in shape. For example, when arranging a cylindrical motor, a combination of an arc-shaped recess 32 and the rear frame 40 is also acceptable. In short, the recess 32 and the rear frame 40 should be formed to conform to the outer shape of the drive unit 50.

[0033] The battery case 30 includes a first front fastening point 30a and a second front fastening point 30b that are fastened to the front frame 20, and a first rear fastening point 30c and a second rear fastening point 30d that are fastened to the rear frame 40.

[0034] The first front fastening points 30a are provided in pairs on the left and right sides of the upper surface of the battery case 30. The left and right first front fastening points 30a are each coaxially positioned with the battery case upper fastening points 24a of the front frame 20 and are fastened to the battery case upper fastening points 24a by bolts or the like that running in the left-right direction. The second front fastening points 30b are provided in pairs on the left and right sides of the front surface of the battery case 30. The left and right second front fastening points 30b are each coaxially positioned with the battery case front fastening points 24b of the front frame 20 and are fastened to the battery case front fastening points 24b by bolts or the like that running in the left-right direction. The battery case 30 and the front frame 20 are fastened together by these first front fastening points 30a and second front fastening points 30b.

[0035] The first rear fastening points 30c are provided in pairs on the left and right sides of the rear surface of the battery case 30. The left and right first rear fastening points 30c are each positioned coaxially with the first battery fastening points 40b of the rear frame 40 (described later) and are fastened to the first battery fastening points 40b by bolts or the like that running in the left-right direction. The second rear fastening points 30d are provided in pairs on the left and right sides of the lower surface of the battery case 30. The left and right second rear fastening points 30d are each positioned coaxially with the second battery fastening points 40c of the rear frame 40 (described later) and are fastened to the second battery fastening points 40c by bolts or the like that running in the left-right direction. The battery case 30 and the rear frame 40 are fastened together by these first rear fastening points 30c and second rear fastening points 30d. In this embodiment, the first rear fastening point 30c is provided at the point where the rear end of the recess 32 intersects with the rear surface of the battery case 30, and the second rear fastening point 30d is provided at the point where the lower end of the recess 32 intersects with the lower surface of the battery case 30.

[0036] Figures 3 and 4 are enlarged left side views showing the rear of the motorcycle 1. Referring to Figures 2 to 4, the rear frame 40 is connected to the lower rear of the battery case 30. Referring also to Figure 9, the rear frame 40 comprises two separate left and right frame bodies 40t. The left and right frame bodies 40t are spaced apart from each other in the vehicle width direction. Each of the left and right frame bodies 40t is composed of a pair of left and right vertical sections 41 extending vertically behind the drive unit 50, and a pair of left and right horizontal sections 42 extending in the front-rear direction below the drive unit 50, and is formed in a roughly L-shape when viewed from the side.

[0037] The left and right frame bodies 40t are integrally connected via cross members (not shown) extending in the vehicle width direction. The left and right frame bodies 40t are positioned to sandwich the drive unit 50 from the outside in the vehicle width direction.

[0038] The rear frame 40 is fastened to the battery case 30 at the upper end of the vertical section 41 and the front end of the horizontal section 42. The upper end of the vertical section 41 is inclined so that it is positioned further inward in the vehicle width direction towards the top, and is aligned with the left-right width around the upper fastening section 54 of the seat frame assembly 27.

[0039] Referring to Figures 2 to 4, the upper end of the vertical section 41 is provided with a first battery fastening point 40b, which is bolted to the first rear fastening point 30c of the battery case 30, and an upper fastening point 40u is provided for fastening the lower fastening point 55 of the seat frame assembly 27, which will be described later. The upper and lower intermediate part of the vertical section 41 is provided with a pivot section 41a through which the pivot shaft 43 is inserted.

[0040] The rear frame 40 is formed in an L-shape in side view, with a first battery fastening point 40b and a second battery fastening point 40c at its ends. The first battery fastening point 40b is provided on the front side of the upper end of the vertical portion 41 of the rear frame 40. A pillion step bracket 18 is attached to the rear edge side of the upper and lower intermediate portion of the vertical portion 41.

[0041] The vertical section 41 includes an extension section 44 that extends forward from the first battery fastening point 40b. The extension section 44 is provided with a first drive unit fastening point 40a, which is bolted to the upper end of the drive unit 50. The first drive unit fastening point 40a is located in front of the first battery fastening point 40b.

[0042] The vertical section 41 further includes a vertical section-side fastening point 40f for fastening to the drive unit 50. The vertical section-side fastening point 40f is located at the joint 40k between the vertical section 41 and the horizontal section 42 at the lower part of the vertical section 41. The joint 40k is the part that connects the first battery fastening point 40b and the second battery fastening point 40c.

[0043] The vertical fastening point 40f is fastened to a fastening point located at the lower rear of the drive unit 50. The vertical fastening point 40f connects the left and right frame bodies 40t of the rear frame 40. The vertical fastening point 40f fastens the drive unit 50 and also fastens the rear of the side stand bracket 28 together with it.

[0044] The vertical portion 41 includes a second drive unit fastening point 40e provided coaxially with the pivot shaft 43, and a third drive unit fastening point (vertical portion-side fastening point 40f) for fastening and fixing the side stand bracket 28 together. The left and right frame bodies 40t of the rear frame 40 are connected by a pivot shaft 43 provided on the vertical portion 41, and a vertical portion-side fastening point 40f provided near the joint 40k of the vertical portion 41 and the horizontal portion 42 for fastening the side stand 29.

[0045] The horizontal portion 42 extends forward from the joint 40k and is fastened to the battery case 30. A second battery fastening point 40c to be fastened to the second rear fastening point 30d of the battery case 30 is provided at the front end of the horizontal portion 42. The second battery fastening point 40c is arranged below and forward of the pivot shaft 43. The second battery fastening point 40c is arranged forward of the first battery fastening point 40b, the motor shaft C1 and the output shaft C2 of the drive unit 50.

[0046] The horizontal portion 42 does not include a support point for the drive unit 50, and has a fastening point only on the battery case 30, so that deflection can be obtained against twisting of the vehicle body. The drive unit 50 is supported by the vertical portion 41 of the rear frame 40 in a state separated from the battery case 30, and is not supported by the horizontal portion 42.

[0047] The drive unit 50 has a substantially rectangular overall shape in a side view, and is arranged between the recessed portion 32 and the rear frame 40 in a side view. A housing forming the overall shape of the drive unit 50 is formed of an aluminum alloy. The drive unit 50 is an integrated unit of a motor 51, a speed reducer 52, and a PDU 53.

[0048] The motor 51 is located at the lower rear of the drive unit 50, and is arranged with its motor axis C1 oriented in the vehicle width direction. The speed reducer 52 is located at the upper rear of the drive unit 50, and is arranged with its output shaft C2 oriented in the vehicle width direction. The output shaft C2 of the drive unit 50 is located forward of the pivot shaft 43. The speed reducer 52 is located above the motor 51. The PDU 53 is located forward of the motor 51 and the speed reducer 52, and is a vertically elongated unit having a length spanning the motor 51 and the speed reducer 52 in the vertical direction.

[0049] As shown in FIG. 2, the drive unit 50 is arranged in a region between a first straight line L1 connecting the upper fastening point 24a of the battery case of the front frame 20 and the first battery fastening point 40b of the rear frame 40, and a second straight line L2 connecting the front-side fastening point 24b of the battery case of the front frame 20 and the second battery fastening point 40c of the rear frame 40. In the present embodiment, the entire drive unit 50 and a part of the battery case 30 are arranged in the region between the first straight line L1 and the second straight line L2.

[0050] <Seat frame assembly 27> Next, the seat frame assembly 27 will be described. FIGS. 6 to 8 are sectional views taken along the sectional lines shown in FIG. 2, FIGS. 9 and 10 are perspective views of the seat frame assembly 27, and FIG. 11 is a bottom view of the seat frame assembly 27. Referring to FIGS. 9 to 11, the seat frame assembly 27 is configured by integrally connecting a pair of left and right seat frames 27t via a cross member 33 extending in the vehicle width direction or the like. Each seat frame 27t is, for example, an integrally molded aluminum cast product. A cushion bracket 60 that supports the upper end portion 16a of the rear cushion 16 is fixed to the front portion of the left and right seat frames 27t by bolt fastening.

[0051] Referring to Figures 3 and 4, support brackets 34 are bolted to the rear of the left and right seat frames 27t to support components mounted on the rear of the seat frame assembly 27 (OBC (On-Board Charger) 70, tail and brake lights 35, etc.). The OBC 70 is an example of a power supply device and has both the functions of an on-board charger and an electrical DC-DC converter, but is not limited to this. The power supply device may have either the function of a charger or a DC-DC converter.

[0052] The seat frame assembly 27 is fixed to the battery case 30 and the rear frame 40 by bolts, with its front end sandwiching the battery case 30 and the rear frame 40 from the outside in the vehicle width direction. The front ends of the left and right seat frames 27t branch into two, upper and lower, in a side view toward the front. The fastening portion to the battery case 30 at the upper front end of the left and right seat frames 27t is called the upper fastening portion 54, and the fastening portion to the rear frame 40 at the lower front end of the left and right seat frames 27t is called the lower fastening portion 55. In the figure, reference numeral B1 indicates a bolt that runs in the vehicle width direction and is used for the upper fastening portion 54, and reference numeral B2 indicates a bolt that runs in the vehicle width direction and is used for the lower fastening portion 55.

[0053] The upper front end of the seat frame assembly 27 is designed so that the width of the upper fastening portion 54, which is fastened to the battery case 30, is smaller than the width of the lower fastening portion 55, which is fastened to the rear frame 40, in order to reduce the width of the straddle portion 56. The straddle portion 56 is the part that is held in place near the base of the legs of the driver seated on the seat 15, and is the part around the front of the seat 15.

[0054] The upper rear portion of the battery case 30 bulges out behind the upper fastening portion 54 and fits between the left and right upper fastening portions 54. Upper fixing portions 30e for fastening the left and right upper fastening portions 54 are provided on the left and right sides of the upper rear portion of the battery case 30. The rear end portion (upper rear end portion 30f) of the upper rear portion of the battery case 30 is provided between the upper fixing portion 30e and the rear cushion 16 in the front-rear direction of the vehicle.

[0055] At the rear of the seat frame assembly 27, the OBC 70 is mounted between the left and right seat frames 27t. The OBC 70 has a flattened rectangular parallelepiped shape with reduced vertical thickness and is formed to be elongated in the front-to-back direction to conform to the side view shape of the seat frame assembly 27.

[0056] Referring to Figure 8, the front portion of the OBC 70 is supported by grommets 36a on projections 36 erected on the inner surfaces of the left and right seat frames 27t. The rear portion of the OBC 70 is fastened to the support bracket 34 via grommets 34a. The inner edges of the upper and lower surfaces of the left and right seat frames 27t have a shape that extends inward in the vehicle width direction and has a U-shaped cross-section with an open end facing inward in the vehicle width direction. The width of the left and right inner edges of the upper and lower surfaces of the left and right seat frames 27t is smaller than the width dimension of the OBC 70 when the left and right seat frames 27t and the OBC 70 are assembled to the vehicle body, so that the OBC 70 and the left and right seat frames 27t overlap in a top view. The front end portion (connector 70a) of the OBC 70 is located behind the upper end portion 16a of the rear cushion 16. The rear cushion 16 is positioned tilted forward with respect to the vertical direction. The front end of the OBC 70 is positioned in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle behind the upper end 16a (upper end connecting portion 16a, described later) of the rear cushion 16 and in front of the lower end 16b (lower end connecting portion 16b).

[0057] Referring also to Figure 5, at least a portion of the upper end 16a of the rear cushion 16 is positioned at the central position P1 between the front end of the OBC 70 (front end of the connector 70a) and the rear end of the battery case 30 (upper rear end 30f) in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle. In the longitudinal direction of the vehicle, the portion of the rear cushion 16 that extends upward from the central axis (stroke axis) C3 passes between the front end of the OBC 70 and the rear end of the battery case 30.

[0058] A rear fender 37 is provided between the lower edges 27b of the left and right seat frames 27t, covering an area extending from the front to above the rear wheel 12. The left and right sides of the rear fender 37 are attached to the lower edges 27b of the left and right seat frames 27t, respectively, and partition the space between the left and right seat frames 27t where components such as the OBC 70 are placed and the space for the rear wheel 12 (wheel house WH). An opening 37a is formed at the front of the rear fender 37, which passes through the upper part of the rear cushion 16.

[0059] The rear cushion 16 has its central axis C3 positioned in the center of the left-right center of the vehicle body. The rear cushion 16 is tilted forward with respect to the vehicle's vertical direction (upper direction) relative to its central axis C3. The rear cushion 16 is inclined so that the upper part is positioned further forward. A cushion cover 38 is provided in front of the upper part of the cushion 16 that extends above the rear fender 37, covering this upper part from the front. The cushion cover 38 extends vertically in front of the upper part of the cushion, separating the rear surface of the battery case 30 from the rear cushion 16.

[0060] The upper end of the cushion cover 38 is attached to a cover fastening portion 63c that protrudes from the upper end of the cushion bracket 60. The lower end of the cushion cover 38 is attached to a cover fastening portion 37b formed on the front lower end of the rear fender 37. These mounting structures fix the cushion cover 38 in the specified position. The lower end of the cushion cover 38 and the front lower end of the rear fender 37 are fastened together to the rear frame 40.

[0061] The cushion cover 38 shields the front side of the upper part of the rear cushion 16 at the front upper part of the opening 37a that penetrates the rear cushion 16 in the rear fender 37. The cushion cover 38 prevents water, mud, sand, etc., stirred up in the wheel well WH from reaching the front upper part of the rear fender 37 (battery case 30 side) through the opening 37a.

[0062] Referring to Figure 8, a groove 37c is formed on the left side of the rear fender 37, which is recessed upward in a cross-sectional view perpendicular to the front-rear direction. The groove 37c houses the tail brake lamp 35, which is supported at the rear end of the seat frame assembly 27, and the harness leading to the rear turn signal 39a and license plate lamp 39b, which are supported at the rear end of a stay 39 extending to the rear of the seat frame assembly 27.

[0063] Referring to Figures 3 and 4, the cushion bracket 60 is fastened to the left and right seat frames 27t by a pair of front and rear bolts B5 near the lower edge 27b of the left and right seat frames 27t. The fastening portions 61 of the cushion bracket 60 to the left and right seat frames 27t (hereinafter referred to as the bracket-side fastening portions 61) are positioned above the lower edge 27b of the left and right seat frames 27t. The bracket-side fastening portions 61 and fasteners such as bolts B5 that are attached and detached from below are positioned above the lower edge 27b of the seat frame 27t and are not exposed below the seat frame 27t in a side view.

[0064] In a side view, the bracket-side fastening portion 61 (and the fastening lower surface 65a, described later) is positioned below the central position P2 (see Figure 3) of the vertical width of the seat frame assembly 27, in the direction along the stroke axis C3 of the rear cushion 16. In the figure, reference numeral 65 indicates the frame-side fastening portion that protrudes from the inner surface of the left and right seat frames 27t, and reference numeral 65a indicates the contact surface (fastening lower surface) at the lower end of the frame-side fastening portion 65 that contacts the bracket-side fastening portion 61 from below. The fastening lower surface 65a is a plane parallel to the left-right direction and is inclined upward at the rear so as to be perpendicular to the stroke axis C3 in a side view.

[0065] The lower fastening surface 65a is located above the lower fastening portion 55 in the vehicle's vertical direction. When the lower fastening surface 65a is extended towards the front of the vehicle in a side view, its extended portion intersects with the lower fastening portion 55 (see Figure 4). The lower fastening surface 65a is positioned at a height closer to the lower fastening portion 55 than to the upper fastening portion 54 in the vehicle's vertical direction. As a result, compared to the case where the lower fastening surface 65a is positioned at a height closer to the upper fastening portion 54, the upward load mainly input from the cushion bracket 60 is distributed using the vertical width of the front of the seat frame 27t, while the lower fastening portion 55 receives a larger load than the upper fastening portion 54. This reduces the rigidity required for the upper fastening portion 54, allowing for a more compact straddle portion at the front of the seat 15.

[0066] Referring to Figures 6 to 8, the cushion connecting portion 63, located on the inside in the left-right direction of the cushion bracket 60, is positioned displaced upward relative to the bracket-side fastening portion 61. By forming the cushion bracket 60 in a gate shape, the bracket-side fastening portion 61 can be positioned at a low position while the cushion connecting portion 63 can be positioned above the seat frame assembly 27 (for example, above the central position P2). This configuration makes it easier to ensure a cushion stroke while distributing the stress caused by the upward load from the cushion bracket 60 across the vertical width of the seat frame 27t.

[0067] <Cushion Bracket 60> Next, the cushion bracket 60 will be described. Referring to Figures 6 to 8, the cushion bracket 60 comprises a pair of left and right bracket-side fastening portions 61 located on the left and right outer sides, a pair of left and right inclined portions 62 that extend upward from the left and right inner sides of the left and right bracket-side fastening portions 61, with the upper part being located further inward, and a cushion connecting portion 63 provided between the upper ends of the left and right inclined portions 62. The bracket-side fastening portions 61 are in the shape of thick plates perpendicular to the central axis C3 of the rear cushion 16 in a side view.

[0068] Referring also to Figure 4, the inclined portion 62 coincides with the central axis C3 of the rear cushion 16 in a side view and extends approximately parallel to the central axis C3. The cushion bracket 60 is a single-piece molded aluminum cast product.

[0069] The cushion connecting portion 63 is U-shaped, opening downward when viewed from the front-rear direction, and the upper end connecting portion 16a of the rear cushion 16 is positioned between the left and right side wall portions 63a. The upper end connecting portion 16a is a so-called end eye provided at the end of the shock absorber to hold the ball bush. The cushion connecting portion 63 rotatably connects the upper end connecting portion 16a of the rear cushion 16 via fastening bolts B3 that run in the left-right direction. The lower end connecting portion (end eye) 16b of the rear cushion 16 is rotatably connected to a cushion connecting portion 13b protruding from the cross member 13a at the front of the swing arm 13 via fastening bolts B4 that run in the left-right direction.

[0070] In a side view of the cushion connecting portion 63 of the cushion bracket 60, a plate-shaped upper wall portion 63b perpendicular to the central axis C3 is provided with a cover fastening portion 63c for fastening the upper end of the cushion cover 38. The left-right width of the cushion connecting portion 63 is narrower than the left-right width of the lower part of the cushion bracket 60 (the distance between the outer ends of the left and right bracket side fastening portions 61), which contributes to reducing the left-right width of the upper part of the seat frame assembly 27.

[0071] Referring to Figure 7, the first cable 66 and the second cable 67 leading to the OBC 70 are distributed and arranged on both the left and right sides of the cushion connection section 63, as well as the supply and drain hoses 68 for the cooling water leading to the water-cooled OBC 70. The first cable 66 is a low-voltage wiring that supplies relatively low-voltage power and is connected to a 12V control device and vehicle electrical components, etc. The second cable 67 is a high-voltage wiring that supplies relatively high-voltage power and is connected to a traction battery 31, etc. At least one of the supply and drain hoses 68 is arranged between the first cable 66 and the second cable 67.

[0072] There are no other electrical devices around the cushion connection section 63, and only relatively unbulky cable, hose, and other cord-like members are arranged there. This suppresses an increase in the width from side to side around the cushion connection section 63, and thus reduces the width from side to side of the upper part of the seat frame assembly 27 and, consequently, the straddle section 56. Reference numeral 27c in Figures 6 to 8 indicates a recess formed on the left and right inner sides of the left and right seat frames 27t, and cables and hoses can be arranged in this recess 27c.

[0073] As described above, the motorcycle 1 of this embodiment includes a pair of left and right seat frames 27t extending to the rear of the vehicle body, a swing arm 13 pivotally supported on a pivot axis 43 relative to the vehicle body and supporting the rear wheel 12, a rear cushion 16 that cushions the load received from the swing arm 13, and a cushion bracket 60 that connects the left and right seat frames 27t and is connected to the rear cushion 16. The left and right seat frames 27t are provided with frame-side fastening portions 65 for fastening the cushion bracket 60. The cushion bracket 60 is provided with a bracket-side fastening portion 61 that is fastened in a state where it abuts from below against the lower fastening surface 65a of the frame-side fastening portion 65 which faces downward on the vehicle. The upper end connecting portion 16a of the rear cushion 16 that is connected to the cushion bracket 60 is located above the vehicle above the lower fastening surface 65a of the frame-side fastening portion 65.

[0074] With this configuration, the upper end connecting portion 16a of the rear cushion 16 supported by the cushion bracket 60 is positioned above the vehicle above the fastening lower surface 65a of the frame-side fastening portion 65. This allows the upper end position of the rear cushion 16 to be positioned as high as possible above the vehicle, ensuring the length of the rear cushion 16 and efficiently receiving the load from the rear wheels 12.

[0075] Here, if the mounting position is a surface or consists of multiple points, for example, the centroid of the surface, or the center of a line or shape connecting multiple points shall be specified. In this embodiment, the "point" of the fastening part is the center of the bolt seat surface. In this embodiment, even if the mounting position of the pivot shaft 43 and the rear cushion 16 moves rearward due to the enlargement of the battery 31, the positional height of the upper end portion 16a of the rear cushion 16 is secured to ensure cushion stroke. In addition, the cushion support rigidity is increased while suppressing the widening of the left-right width around the upper end portion 16a of the rear cushion 16 (corresponding to the front end portion of the seat frame assembly 27 and the vehicle's straddle portion 56).

[0076] In the above-described motorcycle 1, the distance between the left and right seat frames 27t is formed to decrease in the vehicle width direction towards the top of the vehicle body. With this configuration, the distance between the left and right seat frames 27t narrows in the vehicle width direction towards the top, making it less likely to interfere with the rider's inner thighs when riding, and allowing the straddle area 56 to be made more compact. The cushion bracket 60 positioned between the left and right seat frames 27t also narrows in width towards the top, making it easier to position the cushion bracket 60.

[0077] In the above-described motorcycle 1, the cushion bracket 60 protrudes upward from the bracket-side fastening portion 61 located on the outer side in the vehicle width direction, as it moves towards the center in the vehicle width direction, and the upper end connecting portion 16a of the rear cushion 16 is connected to the center of the cushion bracket 60 in the vehicle width direction. With this configuration, the cushion bracket 60 protrudes upward from the vehicle as it moves towards the center in the vehicle width direction, and the rear cushion 16 is supported at the center of the cushion bracket 60 in the vehicle width direction. This allows the upward load from the rear cushion 16 to be distributed to each part of the cushion bracket 60 not only as shear stress but also as tensile and compressive stress, thereby reducing the load on the cushion bracket 60. Compared to the case where the cushion bracket 60 protrudes upward over the entire width, the vehicle width around the straddle portion 56 of the vehicle can be made more compact.

[0078] In the above-described motorcycle 1, the cushion bracket 60 includes a bracket-side fastening portion 61 that extends in the vehicle width direction and abuts against the lower fastening surface 65a of the frame-side fastening portion 65, an inclined portion 62 that extends diagonally upward and inward in the vehicle width direction from the inner end of the bracket-side fastening portion 61 in the vehicle width direction, and a cushion connecting portion 63 supported at the upper end of the inclined portion 62, and the upper end connecting portion 16a of the rear cushion 16 is connected to the cushion connecting portion 63. With this configuration, by supporting the upper end connecting portion 16a of the rear cushion 16 with the cushion connecting portion 63 supported at the upper end of the inclined portion 62 of the cushion bracket 60, the load from the rear cushion 16 upward of the vehicle can be distributed not only as shear stress but also as tensile and compressive stress of the inclined portion 62, thereby reducing the load on the cushion bracket 60.

[0079] In the above-described motorcycle 1, a cushion cover 38 is provided to cover the front of the rear cushion 16, and a cover fastening portion 63c for fastening the cushion cover 38 is provided on the cushion connecting portion 63. With this configuration, by supporting not only the rear cushion 16 but also the cushion cover 38 on the cushion connecting portion 63 of the cushion bracket 60, it is not necessary to form a dedicated mounting portion for the cushion cover 38, thereby reducing the number of parts and simplifying the structure. By shielding the upper rear side of the battery case 30 from the wheelhouse WH side with the cushion cover 38 and the rear fender 37, it is possible to prevent water, mud, sand, etc. from getting on the connectors on the top of the battery case 30.

[0080] Referring to Figure 4, the above-described motorcycle 1 includes a drive unit 50 that drives the rear wheel 12 and a battery 31 that supplies power to the drive unit 50. The battery case 30 housing the battery 31 is positioned in front of the seat frame 27t. The front end of the seat frame 27t includes an upper fastening portion 54 fastened to the battery case 30 and a lower fastening portion 55 fastened to the vehicle frame 10 (rear frame 40) attached to the battery case 30 below the upper fastening portion 54. In a side view, the distance L8 between the fastening lower surface 65a of the frame-side fastening portion 65 and the lower fastening portion 55 is shorter than the distance L7 between the fastening lower surface 65a of the frame-side fastening portion 65 and the upper fastening portion 54. With this configuration, by bringing the fastening lower surface 65a of the frame-side fastening portion 65, which receives the cushioning load, closer to the lower fastening portion 55, the vehicle width of the straddle portion 56 near the upper fastening portion 54 can be reduced.

[0081] Referring to Figure 5, the motorcycle 1 is provided with a lower fastening portion 55 that, in a side view, coincides with the midpoint of the straight line L9 connecting the upper end connecting portion 16a and the pivot shaft 43. With this configuration, by providing the lower fastening portion 55 so as to cross the straight line L9 connecting the upper end connecting portion 16a and the pivot shaft 43 in the vehicle's longitudinal direction, the lower fastening portion 55 can be positioned in a location where the opposing loads acting on the upper end connecting portion 16a and the pivot shaft 43 tend to be evenly distributed.

[0082] Referring to Figure 4, in a side view, the motorcycle 1 has a lower fastening portion 55 provided on the extension of the fastening lower surface 65a of the frame-side fastening portion 65. With this configuration, by providing the lower fastening portion 55 on the extension of the fastening lower surface 65a of the frame-side fastening portion 65, it becomes easier to receive loads acting in the direction along the fastening lower surface 65a (the direction perpendicular to the stroke axis C3 of the rear cushion 16) by directing them towards the lower fastening portion 55. The vertical width of the seat frame 27t can be used to distribute and receive the load acting on the fastening lower surface 65a.

[0083] In the above-described motorcycle 1, a drive unit 50 that drives the rear wheel 12, a battery 31 that supplies power to the drive unit 50, and a power supply device 70 that supplies power to the battery 31 and at least one of the vehicle's electrical components are provided. The battery case 30 that houses the battery 31 is positioned in front of the seat frame 27t and the cushion bracket 60, the power supply device 70 is positioned behind the cushion bracket 60 and between the left and right seat frames 27t, and the upper end connecting portion 16a of the rear cushion 16 is positioned between the battery case 30 and the power supply device 70 in the front-rear direction of the vehicle. With this configuration, by positioning the upper end connecting portion 16a of the rear cushion 16 between the battery case 30 in front of the seat frame assembly 27 and the power supply device 70 at the rear of the seat frame assembly 27, it is possible to position the rear cushion 16 and the like between them, while making the battery 31 and the power supply device 70 somewhat large, thereby reducing the width of the straddle portion 56. The arrangement of the upper end connecting portion 16a of the rear cushion 16 makes it possible to secure a shielding space between the battery case 30 and the power supply device 70.

[0084] In the above-described motorcycle 1, a high-voltage wiring 67 connected to a battery 31 and a relatively low-voltage wiring 66 connected to vehicle electrical components are connected to a power supply device 70. The high-voltage wiring 67 is positioned on one side in the vehicle width direction from the center in the vehicle width direction, and the low-voltage wiring 66 is positioned on the other side in the vehicle width direction from the center in the vehicle width direction. An upper end connecting portion 16a is positioned between the high-voltage wiring 67 and the low-voltage wiring 66 in the vehicle width direction. With this configuration, interference between the high-voltage wiring 67 and the low-voltage wiring 66 can be suppressed by positioning the upper end connecting portion 16a between the high-voltage wiring 67 and the low-voltage wiring 66 which are distributed to both sides in the vehicle width direction.

[0085] In the above-described motorcycle 1, a water pipe 68 through which cooling water flows is connected to the power supply device 70, and at least a portion of the water pipe 68 is positioned between the high-voltage wiring 67 and the low-voltage wiring 66 in the vehicle width direction. With this configuration, by positioning the water pipe 68 between the high-voltage wiring 67 and the low-voltage wiring 66 which are distributed to both sides in the vehicle width direction, interference between the high-voltage wiring 67 and the low-voltage wiring 66 can be suppressed.

[0086] In the above-described motorcycle 1, the stroke axis C3 of the rear cushion 16 is positioned behind the battery case 30. With this configuration, by positioning the stroke axis C3 of the rear cushion 16 behind the battery case 30, it is possible to set it so that the cushion load does not directly face the battery 31.

[0087] It should be noted that the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above. For example, the configuration of the present invention may be applied to saddle-type vehicles other than motorcycles. The saddle-type vehicles include all vehicles on which the driver straddles the vehicle body, and include not only motorcycles (including motorized bicycles and scooter-type vehicles) but also three-wheeled vehicles (including vehicles with one front wheel and two rear wheels, as well as vehicles with two front wheels and one rear wheel) or four-wheeled vehicles (such as four-wheeled buggies). Furthermore, it includes not only scooter-type vehicles with a straddling space but also vehicles with a straddling section. In the embodiments, an example of application to an electric vehicle with an electric motor as the prime mover was shown, but it may also be applied to ICE (Internal Combustion Engine) vehicles that do not have an electric motor as the prime mover. Moreover, the configuration in the above embodiments is just one example of the present invention, and various modifications are possible without departing from the spirit of the present invention, such as replacing the components of the embodiments with well-known components.

[0088] 1 Motorcycle (Saddle-type vehicle) 10 Body frame 12 Rear wheel 13 Swing arm 16 Rear cushion 16a Upper end connection part 27 Seat frame assembly 27t Seat frame 30 Battery case 31 Battery 37 Rear fender 38 Cushion cover 43 Pivot shaft 50 Drive unit 54 Upper fastening part 55 Lower fastening part 56 Straddle part 60 Cushion bracket 61 Bracket side fastening part 62 Inclined part 63 Cushion connection part 63c Cover fastening part 65 Frame side fastening part 65a Fastening bottom surface 66 First cable (low voltage wiring) 67 Second cable (high voltage wiring) 68 Water supply and drainage hose (water piping) 70 OBC (Power supply unit) C3 Stroke axis L7 Distance L8 Distance L9 Straight line

Claims

1. A saddle-type vehicle (1) comprising: a pair of left and right seat frames (27t) extending to the rear of the vehicle body; a swing arm (13) pivotably supported on the vehicle body around a pivot axis (43) and supporting the rear wheel (12); a rear cushion (16) that cushions the load received from the swing arm (13); and a cushion bracket (60) that connects the left and right seat frames (27t) and is connected to the rear cushion (16), wherein the left and right seat frames (27t) are provided with frame-side fastening portions (65) for fastening the cushion bracket (60), and the cushion bracket (60) is provided with a bracket-side fastening portion (61) that is fastened in a state where it abuts from below against the lower fastening surface (65a) of the frame-side fastening portion (65) that faces downward on the vehicle, In a saddle-type vehicle, the upper end connecting portion (16a) of the rear cushion (16) connected to the cushion bracket (60) is positioned above the lower fastening surface (65a) of the frame-side fastening portion (65).

2. The saddle-type vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the distance between the left and right seat frames (27t) is formed to decrease in the vehicle width direction toward the upper part of the vehicle body.

3. The saddle-type vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the cushion bracket (60) protrudes upward from the bracket-side fastening portion (61) located on the outer side in the vehicle width direction, and the upper end connecting portion (16a) of the rear cushion (16) is connected to the center of the cushion bracket (60) in the vehicle width direction.

4. The saddle-type vehicle according to claim 3, wherein the cushion bracket (60) comprises: a bracket-side fastening portion (61) extending in the vehicle width direction and abutting against the lower fastening surface (65a) of the frame-side fastening portion (65); an inclined portion (62) extending diagonally upward and inward in the vehicle width direction from the inner end of the bracket-side fastening portion (61) in the vehicle width direction; and a cushion connecting portion (63) supported at the upper end of the inclined portion (62), and the upper end connecting portion (16a) of the rear cushion (16) is connected to the cushion connecting portion (63).

5. The saddle-type vehicle according to claim 4, further comprising a cushion cover (38) that covers the front of the rear cushion (16), and a cover fastening portion (63c) for fastening the cushion cover (38) to the cushion connecting portion (63).

6. A saddle-type vehicle according to claim 1 or 2, comprising: a drive unit (50) for driving the rear wheels (12); and a battery (31) for supplying power to the drive unit (50), wherein the battery case (30) housing the battery (31) is positioned in front of the seat frame (27t), and the front end of the seat frame (27t) comprises: an upper fastening portion (54) fastened to the battery case (30); and a lower fastening portion (55) fastened to a vehicle body frame (10) attached to the battery case (30) below the upper fastening portion (54), wherein in a side view, the distance (L8) between the fastening lower surface (65a) of the frame-side fastening portion (65) and the lower fastening portion (55) is shorter than the distance (L7) between the fastening lower surface (65a) of the frame-side fastening portion (65) and the upper fastening portion (54).

7. The saddle-type vehicle according to claim 6, wherein, in a side view, the lower fastening portion (55) is provided so as to coincide with the midpoint of the straight line (L9) connecting the upper end connecting portion (16a) and the pivot axis (43).

8. The saddle-type vehicle according to claim 6, wherein, in a side view, the lower fastening portion (55) is provided on the extension of the lower fastening surface (65a) of the frame-side fastening portion (65).

9. A saddle-type vehicle according to claim 1 or 2, comprising: a drive unit (50) for driving the rear wheels (12); a battery (31) for supplying power to the drive unit (50); and a power supply device (70) for supplying power to at least one of the battery (31) and vehicle electrical components, wherein the battery case (30) housing the battery (31) is positioned in front of the seat frame (27t) and the cushion bracket (60); the power supply device (70) is positioned behind the cushion bracket (60) and between the left and right seat frames (27t); and the upper end connecting portion (16a) of the rear cushion (16) is positioned between the battery case (30) and the power supply device (70) in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle.

10. The saddle-type vehicle according to claim 9, wherein the power supply device (70) is connected to a high-voltage wiring (67) connected to the battery (31) and a relatively low-voltage wiring (66) connected to the vehicle's electrical components, the high-voltage wiring (67) is positioned to one side in the vehicle width direction from the center in the vehicle width direction, the low-voltage wiring (66) is positioned to the other side in the vehicle width direction from the center in the vehicle width direction, and the upper end connecting portion (16a) is positioned between the high-voltage wiring (67) and the low-voltage wiring (66) in the vehicle width direction.

11. The saddle-type vehicle according to claim 10, wherein a water pipe (68) through which cooling water passes is connected to the power supply device (70), and at least a portion of the water pipe (68) is positioned between the high-voltage wiring (67) and the low-voltage wiring (66) in the vehicle width direction.

12. The saddle-type vehicle according to claim 9, wherein the stroke axis (C3) of the rear cushion (16) is positioned behind the battery case (30).

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