Electric saddle-type vehicle
Patent Information
- Application Number
- PCT/JP2025/011082
- Authority / Receiving Office
- WO · WO
- Patent Type
- Applications
- Current Assignee / Owner
- Filing Date
- 2025-03-21
- Publication Date
- 2026-09-24
Smart Images
Figure JP2025011082_24092026_PF_FP_ABST
Abstract
Description
Electric straddle-type vehicle
[0001] The present disclosure relates to an electric straddle-type vehicle.
[0002] Patent Document 1 discloses a structure in which, in an electric vehicle including a battery case that houses a battery that supplies electric power to a motor and a motor case that houses the motor, the battery case and the motor case are used as a vehicle body frame. In Patent Document 1, the battery case is used as a vehicle body rigid member, and a front frame on a head pipe side and a rear frame on a swing arm side are spaced apart from each other.
[0003] International Publication No. 2020 / 012791
[0004] In the case of the frame configuration disclosed in Patent Document 1, in order to improve the vehicle handling stability, it is necessary to provide the frame with appropriate flexibility. In such a vehicle configuration, it is not easy to change the rigidity of the battery case at an arbitrary position, and the region where the vehicle body rigidity can be adjusted is narrow. When the battery case is simply used as a vehicle body rigid member, the vehicle body rigidity becomes excessively high. Further, when the vehicle body rigidity is adjusted by changing materials or the like, the rigidity of the entire vehicle body is uniformly reduced, so it is difficult to obtain appropriate rigidity at an arbitrary position. Therefore, in an electric straddle-type vehicle, it has been desired to generate appropriate vehicle body deflection and achieve good handling stability by reducing the rigidity of an appropriate portion in the vehicle body frame.
[0005] In order to solve the above problems, an object of the present disclosure is to provide appropriate deflection and improve handling stability by reducing the rigidity of an appropriate portion in the vehicle body frame. Note that rigidity means resistance to bending (such as second moment of area).
[0006] As a means of solving the above problems, an aspect of the present disclosure has the following configuration: (1) An electric saddle-type vehicle (1) according to an aspect of the present disclosure comprises a battery case (40) formed to accommodate a battery (4) which is a drive source, a front frame (20) connected to the front of the battery case (40) and supporting steering system components (10), and a rear frame (30) connected to the rear of the battery case (40) and supporting rear wheels (7), wherein the battery case (40) functions as a vehicle body frame (19), and the front frame (20) steers the front wheels (6) The vehicle body comprises a head pipe (2) that can be supported, an upper hanger (21) that extends rearward from the top of the head pipe (2) and is connected to the battery case (40), and a lower hanger (22) that is positioned below the upper hanger (21), extends rearward from the bottom of the head pipe (2), and is connected to the battery case (40). The upper hanger (21) is formed separately from the head pipe (2) and is fastened to the head pipe (2) and the battery case (40). With this configuration, the upper hanger is formed separately from the head pipe and is fastened to the head pipe and the battery case, which allows for a moderate reduction in vehicle body rigidity due to slight slippage caused by fastening, and also makes it easy to adjust the vehicle body rigidity. Therefore, by reducing the rigidity of appropriate parts of the vehicle body frame, it is possible to allow for appropriate deflection and improve handling stability.
[0007] (2) In the embodiment of (1) above, the upper hanger (21) may be connected to the upper surface of the battery case (40), and the lower hanger (22) may be connected to the upper front surface of the battery case (40). With this configuration, the front-to-rear length of the upper hanger can be set to be longer without increasing the front-to-rear length of the vehicle frame. Therefore, the rigidity of the upper hanger can be efficiently reduced while securing space for vehicle components. In addition, an adjustment range for the rigidity of the vehicle body can be obtained.
[0008] (3) In the embodiment of (2) above, the lower hanger (22) includes a lower left arm (24L) and a lower right arm (24R) that extend from the head pipe (2) in the vehicle width direction and are connected to the battery case (40), and the maximum widthwise dimension (W1) of the upper hanger (21) may be smaller than the maximum widthwise dimension (W2) at the part where the lower left arm (24L) and the lower right arm (24R) are connected to the battery case (40). With this configuration, the fastening point of the lower hanger can be set as a pivot (the fastening point on the battery case side of the lower hanger is the axis of rotation), and the rigidity of the upper hanger closer to the steering wheel can be set lower. This improves handling stability.
[0009] (4) In the embodiment of (3) above, the upper hanger (21) may include a pair of upper left arm (23L) and upper right arm (23R) arranged on the left and right sides, and each of the upper left arm (23L) and the upper right arm (23R) may include a first extension portion (23a1) extending from the head pipe (2) toward the rear of the vehicle, a second extension portion (23a2) extending from the first extension portion (23a1) toward the rear of the vehicle and outward in the vehicle width direction, and a third extension portion (23a3) extending from the second extension portion (23a2) toward the rear of the vehicle and connected to the battery case (40). With this configuration, the length of the arms can be set to be longer and the rigidity can be reduced by bending each of the upper left arm and the upper right arm between the head pipe and the battery case. Furthermore, since the upper left arm and the upper right arm each extend outward in the vehicle width direction between the head pipe and the battery case, when force is applied with the fastening point of the lower hanger as a pivot, the upper left arm and the upper right arm can bend and spread apart.
[0010] (5) In the embodiment of (4) above, the upper hanger (21) is a plate-shaped member, and a first bent portion (23b1) with a bent shape is formed at the connection portion between the first extended portion (23a1) and the second extended portion (23a2), and a second bent portion (23b2) with a bent shape is formed at the connection portion between the second extended portion (23a2) and the third extended portion (23a3), and the bending axes (Ab1, Ab2) of the first bent portion (23b1) and the second bent portion (23b2) are arranged substantially parallel to the axis (Ax) of the head pipe (2) in a side view. With this configuration, the load applied from the head pipe to the upper hanger can be absorbed by the first bent portion and the second bent portion, respectively, with the fastening point of the lower hanger as a pivot.
[0011] (6) In the embodiment of (4) or (5) above, the upper hanger (21) is a plate-shaped member, and the upper hanger (21) includes a head pipe side fastening point (29a, 29b) fastened to the head pipe (2) and a battery case side fastening point (29c) fastened to the battery case (40), wherein in the upper hanger (21), when the side (21a, 21b) corresponding to the straight line (T1, T2) connecting the head pipe side fastening point (29a, 29b) and the battery case side fastening point (29c) in a side view is defined as the upper side (21a) on the vehicle side and the lower side on the vehicle side is defined as the lower side (21b), the upper side (21a) may be formed in a straight line in a side view, and the lower side (21b) may be formed in a curved shape toward the vehicle in a side view. With this configuration, the upper edge of the upper hanger is formed in a straight line when viewed from the side, allowing it to brace against loads from the head pipe or rear frame and ensuring the necessary strength. Furthermore, the lower edge of the upper hanger is formed in a curved shape towards the top of the vehicle when viewed from the side, ensuring a balance of body rigidity. Note that strength refers to the force that the material and structure can withstand (physical properties such as yield strength, tensile strength, and bending strength).
[0012] (7) In the embodiment of (6) above, the upper side (21a) may extend in a direction substantially perpendicular to the axis (Ax) of the head pipe (2) in a side view and be connected to the battery case (40). With this configuration, the load from the head pipe can be received more efficiently compared to the case in which the upper side of the upper hanger extends in a direction that diagonally intersects the axis of the head pipe in a side view and is connected to the battery case.
[0013] (8) In any of the embodiments of (2) to (7) above, the rear frame (30) comprises a rear hanger (31) connected to the rear side of the battery case (40), a lower hanger (32) connected to the lower side of the battery case (40), and a pivot frame (33) that connects the rear hanger (31) and the lower hanger (32) and pivotably supports the rear wheel (7), wherein the fastening points (29c, 29d, 34b, 34c) of the front frame (20) and the rear frame (30) to the battery case (40) may be arranged in a side view to straddle a straight line (J) passing through the center point (P1) of the head pipe (2) and the contact point (P2) of the rear wheel (7). With this configuration, the fastening point width between the front frame and the rear frame can be set to be large. This allows the load from the head pipe or rear frame to be distributed efficiently.
[0014] (9) In the embodiment of (8) above, in a side view, the straight line (K1) passing between the respective fastening points (29c, 29d) of the upper hanger (21) and the lower hanger (22) to the battery case (40), and the straight line (K2) passing between the respective fastening points (34b, 34c) of the rear hanger (31) and the lower hanger (32) to the battery case (40), may be arranged substantially parallel to each other. With this configuration, the fastening point width between the front frame and the rear frame can be set to be large, and the load from the head pipe or the rear frame can be efficiently received.
[0015] (10) In any of the embodiments described in (1) to (9) above, the upper hanger (21) may have a higher material strength than the head pipe (2) and the lower hanger (22). For example, if the upper hanger has the same or lower material strength as the head pipe and the lower hanger, the shape of the upper hanger may become larger in order to ensure strength, which can result in excessive rigidity. In contrast, with this configuration, the rigidity of the upper hanger can be reduced while maintaining its strength.
[0016] According to the electric saddle-type vehicle described herein, by reducing the rigidity of appropriate parts of the vehicle frame, it is possible to provide appropriate deflection and improve handling stability.
[0017] This is a left side view of the motorcycle according to the embodiment. This is a right side view of the motorcycle according to the embodiment. This is a front view of the motorcycle according to the embodiment. This is a rear view of the motorcycle according to the embodiment. This is a top view of the motorcycle according to the embodiment. This is a left side view of the motorcycle according to the embodiment with the body cover removed. This is a partially enlarged view of Figure 6. This is a right side view of the motorcycle according to the embodiment with the body cover removed. This is a top view of the motorcycle according to the embodiment with the body cover removed. This is a left side view of the motorcycle according to the embodiment with the body cover and tray removed. This is a left side view of the motorcycle according to the embodiment showing the arrangement of the front frame, battery case and inlet. This is a left side view including the XII-XII section of Figure 9. This is a top view of the front frame according to the embodiment viewed from a direction along the axis of the head pipe. This is the left side of the front frame according to the embodiment. This is a right side view of the front frame according to the embodiment. This is a front view of the front frame according to the embodiment. This is a rear view of the front frame according to the embodiment. This is the left side showing the upper hanger according to the embodiment. This is a left side view showing a first modified example of the upper hanger according to the embodiment. This is a left side view showing a second modified example of the upper hanger according to the embodiment.
[0018] Embodiments of this disclosure will be described below with reference to the drawings. In the following description, a motorcycle will be used as an example of an electric saddle-type vehicle. Directions such as front, back, up, down, left, and right in the following description are the same as directions in the vehicle described below. That is, the up and down direction coincides with the vertical direction, and the left and right direction coincides with the vehicle width direction. In the vehicle width direction, the direction away from the vehicle width center is called the outward direction in the vehicle width direction, and the direction approaching the vehicle width center is called the inward direction in the vehicle width direction. In the drawings used in the following description, arrow UP indicates up, arrow FR indicates forward, and arrow LH indicates left. Line CL in the drawing indicates the vehicle width centerline (vehicle width center). In the following description, expressions indicating relative or absolute arrangements such as "parallel," "orthogonal," "center," and "coaxial" do not only mean such arrangements strictly, but also include states where there is relative displacement with tolerances or angles and distances that allow the same function to be obtained. In the drawings used in the following description, the scale of each component may be changed in order to make each component recognizable.
[0019] <Motorcycle> Figure 1 is a left side view of the motorcycle 1 according to the embodiment. Figure 2 is a right side view of the motorcycle 1 according to the embodiment. Figure 3 is a front view of the motorcycle 1 according to the embodiment. Figure 4 is a rear view of the motorcycle 1 according to the embodiment. Figure 5 is a top view of the motorcycle 1 according to the embodiment. Figure 6 is a left side view of the motorcycle 1 according to the embodiment showing the body cover 60 removed. Referring together to Figures 1 to 6, the motorcycle 1 comprises a front frame 20 located at the front of the body and having a head pipe 2, a rear frame 30 located at the rear of the body and supporting a seat 3, a battery 4 located behind the head pipe 2 and in front of the seat 3, a motor 5 driven by the battery 4, a battery case 40 formed to accommodate the battery 4, and a tray 100 (see Figure 6) located on top of the battery case 40 and supporting a plurality of parts.
[0020] The front frame 20 and the rear frame 30 constitute the vehicle body frame 19. The head pipe 2 is located at the front end of the front frame 20. The head pipe 2 is located at the vehicle width center CL. The front frame 20 extends rearward from the head pipe 2. The front frame 20 is connected to the battery case 40. The head pipe 2 supports the steering system components 10, including the front wheels 6, so that they can be steered. The steering stem 11 is inserted through the head pipe 2.
[0021] The front wheel 6 is supported by the lower ends of a pair of front forks 12. The upper parts of the front forks 12 are steerably supported by the front frame 20 via a steering stem 11. A steering handlebar 13 is attached to the upper part of the steering stem 11. Below the handlebar 13, a handlebar lock module 15 (see Figure 6) is provided for locking the handlebar 13.
[0022] The front frame 20 and the rear frame 30 are spaced apart from each other in the front-rear direction. The rear frame 30 is positioned further back than the front frame 20. The front frame 20 and the rear frame 30 are connected via a battery case 40. A radiator 16 (see Figure 6) is provided below the head pipe 2 and in front of the battery case 40.
[0023] The rear frame 30 supports the seat 3 via the seat frame 35. The seat 3 is supported from below by the seat frame 35. The front end of the seat frame 35 is fixed to the rear upper part of the rear frame 30. The seat frame 35 extends toward the rear of the vehicle from the point of fixation to the rear frame 30. The seat 3 is positioned to cover the upper part of the seat frame 35.
[0024] Battery 4 stores the power supplied to the motor 5. Battery case 40 houses battery 4. Battery case 40 is formed in a roughly L-shape when viewed from the side. Battery case 40 includes a front portion 41 which is vertically elongated and roughly rectangular when viewed from the side, and a rear extension portion 42 which extends rearward from the upper rear end of the front portion (see Figure 10).
[0025] The motor 5 is housed in a drive unit 50 (see Figure 6). The drive unit 50 is located at the lower rear of the battery case 40. The drive unit 50 is connected to the rear frame 30. The drive unit 50 houses a reduction gear 51 (or transmission), a motor driver PDU 52 (Power Drive Unit), etc. The PDU 52 is controlled by an ECU 70 (Electric Control Unit), etc. The PDU 52 is located at the front of the drive unit 50.
[0026] The rear frame 30 supports a swingarm 36 that extends in the front-rear direction. The swingarm 36 is located below the rear of the vehicle body. The swingarm 36 is pivotably supported by the rear frame 30. Specifically, the front end of the swingarm 36 is pivotably supported by the rear of the rear frame 30 via a pivot shaft 37. The motorcycle 1 is equipped with a rear cushion 38 between the swingarm 36 and the seat frame 35.
[0027] The rear wheel 7 is rotatably supported at the rear end of the swing arm 36. The rear wheel 7 is connected to the output shaft of the motor 5 via a transmission mechanism (not shown) including an endless member, which is located on the left side of the rear of the vehicle body. For example, the transmission mechanism may be a belt-type transmission mechanism including an endless member such as a drive belt.
[0028] The motorcycle 1 is equipped with a body cover 60 that covers the body frame 19 and the like. The body cover 60 is made of, for example, synthetic resin. The body cover 60 covers the front frame 20 and the upper part of the battery case 40 from above and from both the left and right sides. The body cover 60 includes a left cowl 60L located on the left side of the body and a right cowl 60R located on the right side of the body.
[0029] Figure 7 is a partially enlarged view of Figure 6. Figure 8 is a right side view showing the motorcycle 1 according to the embodiment with the body cover 60 removed. Figure 9 is a top view showing the motorcycle 1 according to the embodiment with the body cover 60 removed. Figure 10 is a left side view showing the motorcycle 1 according to the embodiment with the body cover 60 and tray 100 removed. Figure 11 is a left side view showing the arrangement of the battery case 40 and inlet 92 in the motorcycle 1 according to the embodiment. Figure 12 is a left side view including the cross-section XII-XII of Figure 9. Referring to Figures 7 to 12 together, the tray 100 is formed to follow the top surface and left and right sides of the battery case 40.
[0030] The tray 100 is formed of, for example, synthetic resin. The tray 100 detachably supports a plurality of components. The plurality of components include low-voltage components 70-72 arranged on one side of the tray 100 in the vehicle width direction, and high-voltage component 80 arranged on the other side of the tray 100 in the vehicle width direction, which uses a higher voltage than the low-voltage components 70-72.
[0031] Low-voltage electrical components 70-72 include, for example, an ECU 70, a BCU 71 (Body Control Unit), and an anti-theft device 72. The BCU 71 is an electronic control unit for monitoring and controlling various electrical components within the vehicle body. The anti-theft device 72 is, for example, a security buzzer. High-voltage electrical components 80 include, for example, a PLC 80 (Power Line Communication). The PLC 80 is a device that uses power lines as communication lines.
[0032] The tray 100 includes an upper portion 101 positioned on the upper surface of the battery case 40, and a left side portion 102 and a right side portion 103 positioned on the left and right sides of the battery case 40. The upper portion 101 is formed to conform to the upper surface of the battery case 40. The left side portion 102 extends downward from the left edge of the upper portion 101 and is formed to conform to the left side of the battery case 40. The right side portion 103 extends downward from the right edge of the upper portion 101 and is formed to conform to the right side of the battery case 40.
[0033] In this embodiment, since the front frame 20 and the rear frame 30 are separated, there is no frame running along the left and right sides of the battery case 40. Therefore, multiple components can be mounted on the left side portion 102 and the right side portion 103 of the tray 100, which is positioned on the left and right sides of the battery case 40.
[0034] Low-voltage components 70-72 are arranged on either the left side portion 102 or the right side portion 103. High-voltage component 80 is arranged on the other of the left side portion 102 or the right side portion 103. In this embodiment, low-voltage components 70-72 (ECU 70, BCU 71, anti-theft device 72, fuse 73, ignition switch 74, etc.) are mounted on the left side portion 102 of the tray 100. On the other hand, high-voltage components 80 (PLC 80, relay 81, communication device 82, etc.) are mounted on the right side portion 103 of the tray 100. The communication device 82 is a wireless communication device that communicates based on a communication standard such as Bluetooth®.
[0035] The components include an auxiliary battery 91 that powers the low-voltage components 70-72. The auxiliary battery 91 is located on the upper surface 101 of the tray 100. The auxiliary battery 91 is, for example, a 12V battery.
[0036] The components include vehicle parts 92 and 93 that are different from the auxiliary battery 91. These vehicle parts 92 and 93 are, for example, an inlet 92 and a smart key unit 93. The inlet 92 is a charging connector with charging ports for normal charging and rapid charging. The smart key unit 93 is an electronic control unit that authenticates the owner of the motorcycle 1 and starts or stops the smart key system. The inlet 92 and the smart key unit 93 are located on the upper surface 101 of the tray 100. The inlet 92 and the smart key unit 93 overlap the auxiliary battery 91 when viewed from the front-rear direction of the vehicle.
[0037] The multiple components include a low-voltage harness 95 positioned on one side of the tray 100, flanking the auxiliary battery 91, and a high-voltage harness 96 positioned on the other side of the tray 100, flanking the auxiliary battery 91, and using a higher voltage than the low-voltage harness 95. The low-voltage harness 95 is connected to low-voltage components 70-72. The high-voltage harness 96 is connected to the high-voltage component 80.
[0038] In this embodiment, the low-voltage harness 95 and the like are arranged on the left side of the tray 100, with the auxiliary battery 91 in between. The low-voltage harness 95 is positioned from the left outer edge of the upper surface portion 101 of the tray 100 to the vicinity of the upper edge of the left side surface portion 102. On the other hand, the high-voltage harness 96 and the like are arranged on the right side of the tray 100, with the auxiliary battery 91 in between. The high-voltage harness 96 is positioned from the right outer edge of the upper surface portion 101 of the tray 100 to the vicinity of the upper edge of the right side surface portion 103.
[0039] Multiple components include upper surface components 90-93 (see Figure 9) arranged on the upper surface portion 101. Upper surface components 90-93 include, for example, an IMU 90 (Inertial Measurement Unit), an auxiliary battery 91, an inlet 92, a smart key unit 93, a band member (not shown), etc. The IMU 90 is an inertial measuring device that detects three-dimensional inertial motion (translational and rotational motion in three axes). The IMU 90, auxiliary battery 91, inlet 92, and smart key unit 93 are arranged in order from rear to front. The IMU 90, auxiliary battery 91, inlet 92, and smart key unit 93 are arranged in a single row so as to be connected in the front-to-back direction.
[0040] <Front Frame> Figure 13 is a top view of the front frame 20 according to the embodiment, viewed from a direction along the axis Ax of the head pipe 2. Figure 14 is a left side view of the front frame 20 according to the embodiment. Figure 15 is a right side view of the front frame 20 according to the embodiment. Figure 16 is a front view of the front frame 20 according to the embodiment. Figure 17 is a rear view of the front frame 20 according to the embodiment. Referring together to Figures 13 to 17, the front frame 20 comprises a head pipe 2 that supports the front wheels 6 in a steerable manner, an upper hanger 21 that extends rearward from the upper part of the head pipe 2 and is connected to the battery case 40, and a lower hanger 22 that is positioned below the upper hanger 21, extends rearward from the lower part of the head pipe 2 and is connected to the battery case 40.
[0041] The front frame 20 is formed of a metal material such as aluminum or an aluminum alloy. The front frame 20 is formed by, for example, GDC (Gravity Die Casting) molding (gravity casting method). The front frame 20 is connected to the front upper part of the battery case 40 by bolts (or bosses) having an axis in the vehicle width direction. The front frame 20 constitutes the vehicle body frame 19. The front frame 20 is fastened to the front upper surface of the battery case 40 and the upper front surface of the battery case 40. The front frame 20 is positioned spaced apart from the rear frame 30. The front frame 20 is connected to the rear frame 30 via the battery case 40. In this embodiment, the vehicle body frame 19 is a so-called split frame in which the front frame 20 and the rear frame 30 are connected via the battery case 40.
[0042] The upper hanger 21 is fastened to the upper part of the head pipe 2 by bolts having an axis in the vehicle width direction. The upper hanger 21 is formed separately from the head pipe 2 and the lower hanger 22. The upper hanger 21 may be formed from a material that has at least higher strength (mechanical properties such as yield strength and maximum allowable stress) than the head pipe 2 and the lower hanger 22. This makes it possible to reduce the rigidity of the upper hanger 21 while maintaining its strength by reducing the section modulus of the upper hanger 21.
[0043] The upper hanger 21 is fastened on the upper surface of the battery case 40 by a bolt that has an axis extending in the vehicle width direction and is inserted through the convex portion 43 in the vehicle width direction. The upper hanger 21 includes a pair of left and right upper left arm 23L and upper right arm 23R extending from the head pipe 2. The upper left arm 23L and the upper right arm 23R are formed in a left-right symmetrical shape with the axis Ax of the head pipe 2 (vehicle width center CL) as the axis of symmetry. The upper left arm 23L and the upper right arm 23R are provided so as to clamp the convex portion 43 from the left and right sides. The upper left arm 23L and the upper right arm 23R are formed such that the distance therebetween in the vehicle width direction increases toward the rear of the vehicle.
[0044] The vehicle width dimension of the convex portion 43 (the distance between the left and right outer ends) is smaller than the vehicle width dimension of the upper surface of the battery case 40 (the distance between the left and right outer ends) in a top view. The vehicle width dimension of the convex portion 43 is smaller than the fastening point width of the lower hanger 22 (the distance between the left and right outer ends of the fastening point relative to the upper front surface of the battery case 40). This reduces the rigidity of the upper hanger 21 close to the bar handle 13, thereby improving the handling stability perceived by the rider in response to input.
[0045] The upper left arm 23L and the upper right arm 23R are formed of plate-shaped members from the viewpoint of bending processing and rigidity adjustment. For example, in the case of a vehicle in a higher output range, the required rigidity increases, so the upper left arm 23L and the upper right arm 23R may be formed of a pipe frame or the like. Note that the formation mode of the upper left arm 23L and the upper right arm 23R is not limited to the above, and can be changed according to design specifications.
[0046] The upper left arm 23L and the upper right arm 23R are formed in a triangular shape long in the vehicle front-rear direction in a side view. This allows the front-rear length of the front frame 20 to be increased and the rigidity to be reduced. Note that the shape of the upper left arm 23L and the upper right arm 23R is not limited to the above, and can be changed according to design specifications.
[0047] The upper left arm 23L and the upper right arm 23R have a pair of upper and lower fastening points 29a and 29b (head pipe-side fastening points) fastened to the upper part of the head pipe 2, and a fastening point 29c fastened to the upper surface of the battery case 40 (a fastening point for the front upper surface of the battery case 40). Each of the fastening points 29a to 29c corresponds to each bolt (the axial center of each bolt) that fastens the upper left arm 23L and the upper right arm 23R in a side view. The upper left arm 23L and the upper right arm 23R have three fastening points: a first (upper) head pipe-side fastening point 29a (first fastening point), a second (lower) head pipe-side fastening point 29b (second fastening point), and a fastening point 29c (third fastening point) for the front upper surface of the battery case 40. It should be noted that the number of fastening points of the upper left arm 23L and the upper right arm 23R is not limited to the above, and can be changed according to design specifications.
[0048] The lower hanger 22 extends so as to branch outward in the left-right direction from the lower part of the head pipe 2, extends rearward and downward of the vehicle, and is connected to the upper front surface of the battery case 40. The lower hanger 22 extends further downward than the upper hanger 21, and is fastened near the outer edge in the vehicle width direction of the upper front surface of the battery case 40. The lower hanger 22 is connected at the upper front part of the battery case 40 by a bolt (or a boss) having an axis in the vehicle width direction.
[0049] The lower hanger 22 has a fastening point 29d (battery case front-side fastening point) for the upper front surface of the battery case 40. The fastening point 29d corresponds to the bolt that fastens the lower hanger 22 (the axial center of the bolt) in a side view. For example, when the brake is applied (when the vehicle is decelerated), when an input is applied from the road surface, a force acts to rotate the front frame 20 around the battery case front-side fastening point 29d as the central axis. As a result, when the vehicle decelerates, the load is received counterclockwise (left rotation), and in response to road surface input, the load is received clockwise (right rotation), and a force can be applied to the aforementioned upper hanger 21 with low rigidity, thereby improving handling stability.
[0050] <Arrangement of Inlet and Surrounding Components> Referring together to Figures 11 and 12, the upper hanger 21 is connected to the upper surface of the battery case 40. The inlet 92 is located on the upper surface of the battery case 40. The inlet 92 overlaps with the upper hanger 21 in the vertical direction of the vehicle. At least a portion of the inlet 92 may overlap with the upper hanger 21 when viewed from the vertical direction of the vehicle.
[0051] The front of the inlet 92 overlaps with the rear end of the upper hanger 21 in the vertical direction of the vehicle. The front of the inlet 92 may also overlap with the rear end of the upper hanger 21 when viewed from the vertical direction of the vehicle. In a side view, the front end of the inlet 92 is positioned in front of the rear end of the upper hanger 21. The inlet 92 is inclined on top of the battery case 40 toward the rear and downward of the vehicle.
[0052] A connection port 92a is formed in the inlet 92 for connection to an external power source. The connection port 92a opens toward the rear and upward of the vehicle. In this embodiment, the connection port 92a opens so as to face rear and upward with respect to the axis Ax of the head pipe 2 when viewed from the side. The connection port 92a opens so as to face rear and upward parallel to the insertion / removal direction Vi of the inlet 92 when viewed from the side. Alternatively, the connection port 92a may open toward the rear and upward of the vehicle so as to be parallel to the axis of the head pipe 2 when viewed from the side.
[0053] A projection 43 is formed on the upper surface of the battery case 40, projecting upwards towards the vehicle and connecting to the upper hanger 21. The projection 43 is formed in the center of the front upper surface of the battery case 40 in the front-rear direction. In a side view, the projection 43 is formed in a triangular shape projecting upwards towards the vehicle. In a side view, the upper end of the projection 43 is positioned below the upper end of the head pipe 2. In a top view, the upper hanger 21 and the projection 43 are positioned inward from the outermost edge of the battery case 40 in the vehicle width direction. The inlet 92 overlaps with the projection 43 in the vehicle vertical direction. At least a portion of the inlet 92 may overlap with the projection 43 when viewed from the vehicle vertical direction.
[0054] On the upper surface of the battery case 40, a recess 44 is formed behind the protrusion 43, recessing downwards towards the vehicle. The inlet 92 is positioned in the recess 44. The recess 44 is formed on the front upper surface of the battery case 40, near the center in the front-to-rear direction, behind the protrusion 43. In a side view, the recess 44 is formed in a curved shape that curves downwards towards the vehicle. The lower end of the inlet 92 is positioned in the recess 44.
[0055] The auxiliary battery 91 is located behind the inlet 92. The vehicle body cover 60 covers the inlet 92 and the battery case 40 from the outside. The vehicle body cover 60 comprises a cover body 61 (see Figure 9) having an opening 61a that allows the inlet 92 to be exposed to the outside of the vehicle, and a lid 62 that is configured to open and close the opening 61a and covers the connection port 92a.
[0056] In front of the inlet 92, there is an additional vehicle component 93 that is different from the inlet 92. The upper hanger 21 includes an upper left arm 23L and an upper right arm 23R that extend from the head pipe 2 and are arranged in a pair on the left and right sides. At least a portion of the vehicle component 93 that is different from the inlet 92 is located between the upper left arm 23L and the upper right arm 23R. The vehicle component 93 that is different from the inlet 92 is, for example, a smart key unit 93.
[0057] In this embodiment, the inlet 92 is positioned on the upper surface of the battery case 40 and overlaps with the upper hanger 21 in the vertical direction of the vehicle, allowing the front-to-rear length of the upper hanger 21 to be set longer. This reduces rigidity by separating the connection points between the head pipe 2 and the battery case 40, and also provides room for adjustment of the vehicle body rigidity. Furthermore, the inlet 92 is inclined toward the rear and downward on top of the battery case 40, which widens the space below the front of the inlet 92, and allows the upper hanger 21 to extend into this space. This makes it possible to achieve both rigidity and layout flexibility for the inlet 92 and the upper hanger 21.
[0058] In this embodiment, the upper surface of the battery case 40 is formed with a protrusion 43 that fastens to the upper hanger 21, and a recess 44 that recesses downward from the rear of the protrusion 43 (the trailing edge of the protrusion 43). The inlet 92 is positioned from the upper surface of the protrusion 43 (the inclined surface on the rear side of the protrusion 43) to the upper surface of the recess 44 (the curved surface of the recess 44).
[0059] On the upper surface 101 of the tray 100, the smart key unit 93 and the auxiliary battery 91 are positioned to overlap the inlet 92 in the front-rear direction. The smart key unit 93 is positioned in front of the inlet 92. At least a portion of the smart key unit 93 is positioned between the upper left arm 23L and the upper right arm 23R of the upper hanger 21. For example, the lower end (coupler portion) of the smart key unit 93 is positioned between the upper left arm 23L and the upper right arm 23R.
[0060] The auxiliary battery 91 is located behind the inlet 92, with its terminals positioned particularly close to the inlet 92. In this embodiment, the inclined arrangement of the inlet 92 causes the rear edge of the inlet 92 to be positioned lower than the front edge of the inlet 92. This facilitates access to the terminals of the auxiliary battery 91.
[0061] When the lid 62 covering the inlet 92 is opened, the connection port 92a of the inlet 92 is exposed through the opening 61a of the cover body 61. A lid 63 for the auxiliary battery is provided on the part of the cover body 61 behind the connection port 92a of the inlet 92 (the base of the lid 62), allowing access to the terminals of the auxiliary battery 91. This makes it possible to operate the auxiliary battery 91 without removing the vehicle cover 60 (body cowl, etc.).
[0062] <Details of the Upper and Lower Hangers> Figure 18 is a left side view showing the upper hanger according to the embodiment. Referring to Figures 10 to 18 together, the upper hanger 21 is formed separately from the head pipe 2. The upper hanger 21 is fastened to the head pipe 2 and the battery case 40. The upper hanger 21 is connected to the upper surface of the battery case 40. The upper hanger 21 has higher material strength than the head pipe 2 and the lower hanger 22. The lower hanger 22 is connected to the upper front surface of the battery case 40.
[0063] The lower hanger 22 includes a lower left arm 24L and a lower right arm 24R that extend from the head pipe 2 in the vehicle width direction and are connected to the battery case 40. The maximum widthwise dimension W1 of the upper hanger 21 is smaller than the maximum widthwise dimension W2 at the point where the lower left arm 24L and the lower right arm 24R are connected to the battery case 40 (W1 < W2, see Figure 13). The maximum widthwise dimension W1 of the upper hanger 21 corresponds to the distance between the rear ends of the upper left arm 23L and the upper right arm 23R that are connected to the battery case 40. The maximum widthwise dimension W2 at the point where the lower left arm 24L and the lower right arm 24R are connected to the battery case 40 corresponds to the distance between the rear ends of the lower left arm 24L and the lower right arm 24R that are connected to the battery case 40.
[0064] The upper hanger 21 includes a pair of upper left arm 23L and upper right arm 23R, which are arranged on the left and right sides. Each of the upper left arm 23L and upper right arm 23R includes a first extension portion 23a1 extending from the head pipe 2 toward the rear of the vehicle, a second extension portion 23a2 extending from the first extension portion 23a1 toward the rear of the vehicle and outward in the vehicle width direction, and a third extension portion 23a3 extending from the second extension portion 23a2 toward the rear of the vehicle and connected to the battery case 40.
[0065] The first extension portion 23a1 extends linearly toward the rear of the vehicle from the boss portion through which a bolt is inserted in the head pipe 2, when viewed from a direction along the axis Ax of the head pipe 2. The second extension portion 23a2 is inclined to be located outward in the vehicle width direction as it moves from the rear end side of the first extension portion 23a1 toward the front end side (rear of the vehicle) of the third extension portion 23a3, when viewed from a direction along the axis Ax of the head pipe 2. The third extension portion 23a3 extends from the rear end side of the second extension portion 23a2 toward the protrusion 43 through which a bolt is inserted in the front upper surface of the battery case 40, when viewed from a direction along the axis Ax of the head pipe 2.
[0066] The upper hanger 21 is a plate-shaped member. A first bent portion 23b1 is formed at the connection point between the first extended portion 23a1 and the second extended portion 23a2. A second bent portion 23b2 is formed at the connection point between the second extended portion 23a2 and the third extended portion 23a3.
[0067] The first bent portion 23b1 is formed in a curved shape that curves inward (inward in the vehicle width direction and towards the rear of the vehicle) between the rear end of the first extended portion 23a1 and the front end of the second extended portion 23a2 when viewed from a direction along the axis Ax of the head pipe 2. The first bent portion 23b2 is formed in a curved shape that curves outward (outward in the vehicle width direction and towards the front of the vehicle) between the rear end of the second extended portion 23a2 and the front end of the third extended portion 23a3 when viewed from a direction along the axis Ax of the head pipe 2.
[0068] The bending axes Ab1 and Ab2 of the first bent portion 23b1 and the second bent portion 23b2 are arranged approximately parallel to the axis Ax of the head pipe 2 in a side view. The bending axis Ab1 of the first bent portion 23b1 corresponds to a straight line passing through the center of the radius of curvature of the curved surface of the first bent portion 23b1 (the curved side surface when viewed from the direction along the axis Ax of the head pipe 2). The bending axis Ab2 of the second bent portion 23b2 corresponds to a straight line passing through the center of the radius of curvature of the curved surface of the second bent portion 23b2 (the curved side surface when viewed from the direction along the axis Ax of the head pipe 2).
[0069] The upper hanger 21 includes head pipe side fastening points 29a and 29b that are fastened to the head pipe 2, and a battery case side fastening point 29c that is fastened to the battery case 40. In the upper hanger 21, of the sides 21a and 21b that correspond to the straight lines T1 and T2 connecting the head pipe side fastening points 29a and 29b and the battery case side fastening point 29c in a side view, the side 21a on the upper side of the vehicle is designated as the upper side 21a, and the side 21b on the lower side of the vehicle is designated as the lower side 21b. The upper side 21a of the upper hanger 21 corresponds to the side corresponding to the straight line T1 connecting the first fastening point 29a and the third fastening point 29c in a side view. The lower side 21b of the upper hanger 21 corresponds to the side corresponding to the straight line T2 connecting the second fastening point 29b and the third fastening point 29c in a side view.
[0070] The upper edge 21a of the upper hanger 21 is formed in a straight line when viewed from the side. The upper edge 21a of the upper hanger 21 is inclined so that it is positioned downwards as it approaches the rear of the vehicle when viewed from the side. The upper edge 21a of the upper hanger 21 extends approximately parallel to the straight line T1 connecting the first fastening point 29a and the third fastening point 29c when viewed from the side. The lower edge 21b of the upper hanger 21 is formed in a curved shape toward the upward direction of the vehicle when viewed from the side. The lower edge 21b of the upper hanger 21 is formed in a curved shape toward the straight line T2 connecting the second fastening point 29b and the third fastening point 29c when viewed from the side.
[0071] The upper edge 21a of the upper hanger 21 extends in a direction substantially perpendicular to the axis Ax of the head pipe 2 in a side view and connects to the battery case 40. In a side view, the extension of the upper edge 21a of the upper hanger 21 is inclined to intersect the inclined surface on the rear side of the protrusion 43 at an obtuse angle. On the other hand, the lower edge 21b of the upper hanger 21 is formed in a curved shape so as to be cut out toward the center of the upper hanger 21 in a side view. This ensures that when a load is applied to the front frame 20 (specifically, when a moment acts with the lower hanger 22 as the center of rotation), the upper edge 21a of the upper hanger 21 braces, thereby ensuring the necessary rigidity. On the other hand, the curved cutout of the lower edge 21b of the upper hanger 21 allows the load to be relieved when the above load is applied.
[0072] <Details of the rear frame> The rear frame 30 has the function of transmitting the load from the rear wheel 7 to the battery case 40. The rear frame 30 includes a rear hanger 31 connected to the rear side of the battery case 40, a lower hanger 32 connected to the lower side of the battery case 40, and a pivot frame 33 that connects the rear hanger 31 and the lower hanger 32 and supports the rear wheel 7 so that it can swing.
[0073] The rear hanger 31 of the rear frame 30 has a fastening point 34b (rear fastening point) that is fastened to the rear side of the battery case 40 (specifically, the lower surface of the rear extension 42). In a side view, the fastening point 34b corresponds to the bolt (axis center of the bolt) that fastens the rear hanger 31 of the rear frame 30 to the battery case 40.
[0074] The lower hanger 32 of the rear frame 30 has a fastening point 34c (lower fastening point) that is fastened to the lower side of the battery case 40 (specifically, the lower rear end of the front part 41). The fastening point 34c corresponds to the bolt (axis center of the bolt) that fastens the lower hanger 32 of the rear frame 30 to the battery case 40.
[0075] In this embodiment, the rear frame 30 has two fastening points 34b and 34c: one fastening point 34b on the rear hanger 31 and one fastening point 34c on the lower hanger 32. The number of fastening points of the rear frame 30 to the battery case 40 is not limited to the above and can be changed according to the design specifications. For example, fastening point 34a is fastened only to the power unit, but it may also be configured to fasten both the battery case 40 and the power unit together.
[0076] <Arrangement of fastening points to the battery case> Referring to Figure 10, the fastening points 29c, 29d, 34b, and 34c of the front frame 20 and rear frame 30 to the battery case 40 are arranged in a side view across a straight line J that passes through the center point P1 of the head pipe 2 and the contact point P2 of the rear wheel 7. The center point P1 of the head pipe 2 corresponds to the center point of the head pipe 2 in the direction of the axis Ax of the head pipe 2 in a side view. The contact point of the rear wheel 7 corresponds to the center point in the front-rear direction of the contact surface where the rear wheel 7 contacts the ground in a side view.
[0077] The fastening points 29c and 34b of the upper hanger 21 and rear hanger 31 to the battery case 40 are positioned above the straight line J in a side view. On the other hand, the fastening points 29d and 34c of the lower hanger 22 and lower hanger 32 to the battery case 40 are positioned below the straight line J in a side view. As described above, in this embodiment, the fastening point 34a is fastened only to the power unit, but it may also be fastened to the battery case 40. In this case, the fastening point 34a provided on the rear hanger 31 is positioned above the straight line J in a side view. The object to which the fastening point 34a is fastened can be appropriately changed according to the required rigidity of the vehicle body.
[0078] In a side view, the straight line K1 passing between the fastening points 29c and 29d of the upper hanger 21 and lower hanger 22 to the battery case 40, and the straight line K2 passing between the fastening points 34b and 34c of the rear hanger 31 and bottom hanger 32 to the battery case 40, are arranged approximately parallel to each other. In a side view, the straight line K1 passing between the fastening points 29c and 29d of the upper hanger 21 and lower hanger 22 to the battery case 40 corresponds to the straight line passing between the third fastening point 29c of the upper hanger 21 and the fastening point 29d of the lower hanger 22. In a side view, the straight line K2 passing between the fastening points 34b and 34c of the rear hanger 31 and bottom hanger 32 to the battery case 40 corresponds to the straight line passing between the rear fastening point 34b of the rear hanger 31 and the fastening point 34c of the bottom hanger 32.
[0079] <Effects and Effects> As described above, the electric saddle-type vehicle 1 of the above embodiment comprises a battery case 40 formed to accommodate a battery 4 which is a drive source, a front frame 20 connected to the front of the battery case 40 and supporting steering system components 10, and a rear frame 30 connected to the rear of the battery case 40 and supporting the rear wheels 7. The battery case 40 functions as the vehicle body frame 19. The front frame 20 comprises a head pipe 2 that supports the front wheels 6 so that they can be steered, an upper hanger 21 extending rearward from the top of the head pipe 2 and connected to the battery case 40, and a lower hanger 22 positioned below the upper hanger 21, extending rearward from the bottom of the head pipe 2 and connected to the battery case 40. The upper hanger 21 is formed separately from the head pipe 2 and fastened to the head pipe 2 and the battery case 40. With this configuration, the upper hanger 21 is formed separately from the head pipe 2 and fastened to the head pipe 2 and the battery case 40. This allows for a moderate reduction in body rigidity due to slight slippage caused by the fastening, and also facilitates adjustment of body rigidity. Therefore, by reducing the rigidity of appropriate parts of the body frame 19, it is possible to provide appropriate deflection and improve handling stability.
[0080] In the above embodiment, the upper hanger 21 is connected to the upper surface of the battery case 40. The lower hanger 22 is connected to the upper front surface of the battery case 40. With this configuration, the front-to-rear length of the upper hanger 21 can be increased without increasing the front-to-rear length of the vehicle frame 19. Therefore, the rigidity of the upper hanger 21 can be efficiently reduced while securing space for vehicle components. In addition, an adjustment range for vehicle body rigidity can be obtained.
[0081] In the above embodiment, the lower hanger 22 includes a lower left arm 24L and a lower right arm 24R that extend from the head pipe 2 in the vehicle width direction and are connected to the battery case 40. The maximum widthwise dimension W1 of the upper hanger 21 is smaller than the maximum widthwise dimension W2 at the point where the lower left arm 24L and the lower right arm 24R are connected to the battery case 40. With this configuration, the fastening point of the lower hanger 22 is set as a pivot (the fastening point 29d on the battery case 40 side of the lower hanger 22 is the axis of rotation), and the rigidity of the upper hanger 21 closer to the steering wheel can be set lower. This improves handling stability.
[0082] In the above embodiment, the upper hanger 21 includes an upper left arm 23L and an upper right arm 23R arranged as a pair on the left and right sides. Each of the upper left arm 23L and the upper right arm 23R includes a first extension portion 23a1 extending from the head pipe 2 toward the rear of the vehicle, a second extension portion 23a2 extending from the first extension portion 23a1 toward the rear of the vehicle and outward in the vehicle width direction, and a third extension portion 23a3 extending from the second extension portion 23a2 toward the rear of the vehicle and connected to the battery case 40. With this configuration, each of the upper left arm 23L and the upper right arm 23R bends between the head pipe 2 and the battery case 40, allowing the arm length to be set longer and reducing rigidity. Furthermore, since the upper left arm 23L and the upper right arm 23R each extend outward in the vehicle width direction between the head pipe 2 and the battery case 40, when a force is applied with the fastening point of the lower hanger 22 as a pivot, the upper left arm 23L and the upper right arm 23R can bend and spread apart.
[0083] In the above embodiment, the upper hanger 21 is a plate-shaped member. A first bent portion 23b1 is formed at the connection point between the first extended portion 23a1 and the second extended portion 23a2. A second bent portion 23b2 is formed at the connection point between the second extended portion 23a2 and the third extended portion 23a3. The bending axes Ab1 and Ab2 of the first bent portion 23b1 and the second bent portion 23b2 are arranged substantially parallel to the axis Ax of the head pipe 2 in a side view. With this configuration, the load applied from the head pipe 2 to the upper hanger 21, with the fastening point of the lower hanger 22 as a pivot, can be absorbed by the first bent portion 23b1 and the second bent portion 23b2, respectively.
[0084] In the above embodiment, the upper hanger 21 includes head pipe side fastening points 29a, 29b fastened to the head pipe 2 and battery case side fastening point 29c fastened to the battery case 40. In the upper hanger 21, of the sides 21a, 21b corresponding to the straight lines T1, T2 connecting the head pipe side fastening points 29a, 29b and the battery case side fastening point 29c in a side view, the side 21a on the upper side of the vehicle is designated as the upper side 21a, and the side 21b on the lower side of the vehicle is designated as the lower side 21b. The upper side 21a is formed in a straight line in a side view. The lower side 21b is formed in a curved shape toward the upper side of the vehicle in a side view. With this configuration, the upper side 21a of the upper hanger 21 is formed in a straight line in a side view, so that it can brace against loads received from the head pipe 2 or the rear frame 30, and the necessary strength can be ensured. In addition, the lower side 21b of the upper hanger 21 is formed in a curved shape toward the upper side of the vehicle in a side view, so that the balance of vehicle body rigidity can be ensured.
[0085] In the above embodiment, the upper side 21a of the upper hanger 21 extends in a direction substantially perpendicular to the axis Ax of the head pipe 2 in a side view and is connected to the battery case 40. With this configuration, the load from the head pipe 2 can be received more efficiently compared to the case where the upper side 21a of the upper hanger 21 extends in a direction that diagonally intersects the axis Ax of the head pipe 2 in a side view and is connected to the battery case 40.
[0086] In the above embodiment, the rear frame 30 includes a rear hanger 31 connected to the rear side of the battery case 40, a lower hanger 32 connected to the lower side of the battery case 40, and a pivot frame 33 that connects the rear hanger 31 and the lower hanger 32 and pivotably supports the rear wheel 7. The fastening points 29c, 29d, 34b, and 34c of the front frame 20 and the rear frame 30 to the battery case 40 are arranged in a side view across a straight line J passing through the center point P1 of the head pipe 2 and the contact point P2 of the rear wheel 7. With this configuration, the fastening point width (the distance between fastening points that straddle the straight line J) between the front frame 20 and the rear frame 30 can be set to be large. This makes it possible to efficiently receive the load from the head pipe 2 or the rear frame 30.
[0087] In the above embodiment, in a side view, the straight line K1 passing between the fastening points 29c, 29d of the upper hanger 21 and the lower hanger 22 to the battery case 40, and the straight line K2 passing between the fastening points 34b, 34c of the rear hanger 31 and the lower hanger 32 to the battery case 40, are arranged substantially parallel to each other. With this configuration, the fastening point width (the distance between the straight lines K1 and K2) between the front frame 20 and the rear frame 30 can be set to be large, and the load from the head pipe 2 or the rear frame 30 can be efficiently received.
[0088] In the above embodiment, the upper hanger 21 has higher material strength than the head pipe 2 and the lower hanger 22. For example, if the upper hanger 21 has the same or lower material strength as the head pipe 2 and the lower hanger 22, the shape of the upper hanger 21 may become larger in order to ensure strength, which can result in excessive rigidity. In contrast, with this configuration, it is possible to reduce the rigidity of the upper hanger 21 while maintaining its strength.
[0089] <Modified Upper Hanger> Figure 19 is a left side view showing a first modified upper hanger 21 according to the embodiment. Figure 20 is a left side view showing a second modified upper hanger 21 according to the embodiment. In the above embodiment, the upper left arm 23L and the upper right arm 23R of the upper hanger 21 were described as having three fastening points: a first (upper) head pipe side fastening point 29a (first fastening point), a second (lower) head pipe side fastening point 29b (second fastening point), and a fastening point 29c (third fastening point) to the front upper surface of the battery case 40, but the embodiment is not limited to this.
[0090] For example, as shown in Figure 19, the upper hanger 21-1 may have two fastening points: one fastening point 29a to the head pipe 2 and one fastening point 29c to the front upper surface of the battery case 40. The upper edge 21a of the upper hanger 21-1 may extend substantially parallel to the straight line T1 connecting the fastening points 29a and 29c in a side view. The lower edge 21b of the upper hanger 21-1 may be formed in a curved shape toward the straight line T1 (center of the upper hanger 21-1) connecting the fastening points 29a and 29c in a side view.
[0091] For example, as shown in Figure 20, the upper hanger 21-2 may have four fastening points: two fastening points 29a and 29b to the head pipe 2, and two fastening points 29c1 and 29c2 to the front upper surface of the battery case 40. The upper edge 21a of the upper hanger 21-2 may extend substantially parallel to the straight line T1 connecting the fastening points 29a and 29c1 in a side view. The lower edge 21b of the upper hanger 21-2 may be formed in a curved shape toward the straight line T2 (center of the upper hanger 21-2) connecting the fastening points 29b and 29c2 in a side view.
[0092] <Modifications> In the above embodiment, the upper hanger is described as being connected to the top surface of the battery case and the lower hanger is connected to the upper front surface of the battery case, but the embodiment is not limited to this. For example, the upper hanger may be connected to the front surface of the battery case. For example, the lower hanger may be connected to the lower front surface of the battery case. The way in which the upper and lower hangers are connected to the battery case can be changed according to the design specifications.
[0093] In the above embodiment, the lower hanger is provided with a lower left arm and a lower right arm that extend from the head pipe in the vehicle width direction and are connected to the battery case, and the maximum widthwise dimension of the upper hanger is smaller than the maximum widthwise dimension at the point where the lower left arm and the lower right arm are connected to the battery case. However, the embodiment is not limited to this example. For example, the maximum widthwise dimension of the upper hanger may be greater than or equal to the maximum widthwise dimension at the point where the lower left arm and the lower right arm are connected to the battery case. The maximum widthwise dimension of the upper hanger can be changed according to the design specifications.
[0094] In the above embodiment, the upper hanger is provided with a pair of upper left and upper right arms, each of which includes a first extension extending from the head pipe to the rear of the vehicle, a second extension extending from the first extension to the rear of the vehicle and outward in the vehicle width direction, and a third extension extending from the second extension to the rear of the vehicle and connected to the battery case. However, the embodiment is not limited to this example. For example, each of the upper left and upper right arms does not need to bend between the head pipe and the battery case. For example, each of the upper left and upper right arms does not need to extend outward in the vehicle width direction between the head pipe and the battery case. The configuration of the upper left and upper right arms can be changed according to the design specifications.
[0095] In the above embodiment, the upper hanger is described as a plate-shaped member, with a first bent portion formed at the connection point between the first and second extended portions, and a second bent portion formed at the connection point between the second and third extended portions, and the bending axes of the first and second bent portions are arranged substantially parallel to the axis of the head pipe in a side view, but the embodiment is not limited to this. For example, the upper hanger does not have to be a plate-shaped member. For example, the upper hanger may be formed from a pipe frame or the like. For example, the bending axes of the first and second bent portions do not have to be arranged parallel to the axis of the head pipe in a side view. The form of the upper hanger and the arrangement of the bending axes of the first and second bent portions can be changed according to the design specifications.
[0096] In the above embodiment, the upper hanger includes a head pipe-side fastening point fastened to the head pipe and a battery case-side fastening point fastened to the battery case. In the upper hanger, when the side corresponding to the straight line connecting the head pipe-side fastening point and the battery case-side fastening point in a side view is defined as the upper side of the vehicle and the side on the lower side of the vehicle, the upper side is formed in a straight line in a side view and the lower side is formed in a curved shape toward the upper part of the vehicle in a side view. However, the embodiment is not limited to this example. For example, the upper side of the upper hanger may be formed in a curved shape in a side view. The lower side of the upper hanger may be formed in a straight line in a side view. The side view shapes of the upper and lower sides of the upper hanger can be changed according to the design specifications.
[0097] In the above embodiment, the upper edge of the upper hanger was described as extending in a direction substantially perpendicular to the axis of the head pipe in a side view and connecting to the battery case, but it is not limited to this. For example, the upper edge of the upper hanger may extend in a direction that diagonally intersects the axis of the head pipe in a side view and connect to the battery case. The arrangement of the upper edge of the upper hanger with respect to the axis of the head pipe in a side view can be changed according to the design specifications.
[0098] In the above embodiment, the rear frame comprises a rear hanger connected to the rear side of the battery case, a lower hanger connected to the lower side of the battery case, and a pivot frame connecting the rear hanger and the lower hanger to pivotably support the rear wheel. The fastening points of the front frame and rear frame to the battery case are described as being arranged in a side view across a straight line perpendicular to the axis of the head pipe and passing through the point of contact of the rear wheel, but the invention is not limited to this. For example, the rear frame may be configured to include a pivot frame, or the swingarm may be directly connected to the battery case. For example, the rear frame may be configured such that the motor case is connected to the battery case, as disclosed in Prior Art 1. The configuration of the rear frame is not limited to the above and can be changed according to the design specifications. For example, the fastening points of the front frame and rear frame to the battery case do not have to be arranged in a side view across a straight line passing through the center point of the head pipe and the point of contact of the rear wheel. The relationship between the fastening points of the front and rear frames to the battery case and the straight line passing through the center point of the head pipe and the point of contact of the rear wheel can be changed according to the design specifications.
[0099] In the above embodiment, an example was given in which, in a side view, the lines passing between the fastening points of the upper and lower hangers to the battery case and the lines passing between the fastening points of the rear and bottom hangers to the battery case are arranged approximately parallel to each other. However, the embodiment is not limited to this example. For example, in a side view, the lines passing between the fastening points of the upper and lower hangers to the battery case and the lines passing between the fastening points of the rear and bottom hangers to the battery case do not have to be arranged parallel to each other. The arrangement relationship between the lines passing between the fastening points of the upper and lower hangers to the battery case and the lines passing between the fastening points of the rear and bottom hangers to the battery case can be changed according to the design specifications.
[0100] In the above embodiment, an example was given in which the upper hanger has higher material strength than the head pipe and lower hanger, but this is not limited to this. For example, the upper hanger may have the same material strength as the head pipe and lower hanger. For example, the upper hanger may have lower material strength than the head pipe and lower hanger. The material strength of the upper hanger, head pipe and lower hanger can be changed according to the design specifications.
[0101] Furthermore, a program to implement some or all of the functions of the control device (e.g., PDU, ECU, and BCU) in this disclosure may be recorded on a computer-readable recording medium, and all or part of the processing performed by the control device may be performed by loading the program recorded on this recording medium into a computer system and executing it. Herein, "computer system" includes hardware such as the OS and peripheral devices. "Computer system" also includes a WWW system equipped with a homepage provisioning environment (or display environment). "Computer-readable recording medium" refers to portable media such as flexible disks, magneto-optical disks, ROMs, CD-ROMs, and storage devices such as hard disks built into a computer system. Furthermore, "computer-readable recording medium" also includes volatile memory (RAM) within a computer system that acts as a server or client when a program is transmitted via a network such as the Internet or a communication line such as a telephone line, which retains the program for a certain period of time.
[0102] It should be noted that the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above. For example, the configuration of the embodiments may be applied not only to motorcycles but also to various electric saddle-type vehicles. 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, 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 invention, such as replacing the components of the embodiments with well-known components.
[0103] 1 Motorcycle (electric saddle-type vehicle) 2 Head pipe 4 Battery 6 Front wheel 7 Rear wheel 10 Steering system components 19 Body frame 20 Front frame 21 Upper hanger 21a Upper edge 21b Lower edge 22 Lower hanger 23a1 First extension 23a2 Second extension 23a3 Third extension 23b1 First bend 23b2 Second bend 23L Upper left arm 23R Upper right arm 24L Lower left arm 24R Lower right arm 29a, 29b Head pipe side fastening point 29c Battery case side fastening point 30 Rear frame 31 Rear side hanger 32 Bottom side hanger 33 Pivot frame 34b Fastening point of rear side hanger to battery case 34c 40 Battery case Ab1 Bending axis of the first bend Ab2 Bending axis of the second bend Ax Axis of the head pipe J Line passing through the center point of the head pipe and the point of contact of the rear wheel K1 Line passing through the respective fastening points of the upper and lower hangers to the battery case K2 Line passing through the respective fastening points of the rear and lower hangers to the battery case P1 Center point of the head pipe P2 Point of contact of the rear wheel T1, T2 Line connecting the fastening point on the head pipe side and the fastening point on the battery case side W1 Maximum width of the upper hanger W2 Maximum width of the lower left arm and lower right arm at the point where they are connected to the battery case
Claims
1. The vehicle comprises a battery case (40) formed to accommodate a battery (4) which is a power source, a front frame (20) connected to the front of the battery case (40) and supporting steering system components (10), and a rear frame (30) connected to the rear of the battery case (40) and supporting rear wheels (7), wherein the battery case (40) functions as a vehicle frame (19), and the front frame (20) comprises a head pipe (2) that supports the front wheels (6) in a steerable manner, an upper hanger (21) extending rearward from the upper part of the head pipe (2) and connected to the battery case (40), and a lower hanger (22) positioned below the upper hanger (21) and extending rearward from the lower part of the head pipe (2) and connected to the battery case (40), wherein the upper hanger (21) is formed separately from the head pipe (2) and fastened to the head pipe (2) and the battery case (40). Electric saddle-type vehicle.
2. The electric saddle-type vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the upper hanger (21) is connected to the upper surface of the battery case (40), and the lower hanger (22) is connected to the upper front surface of the battery case (40).
3. The lower hanger (22) comprises a lower left arm (24L) and a lower right arm (24R) extending from the head pipe (2) in the vehicle width direction and connected to the battery case (40), and the maximum widthwise dimension (W1) of the upper hanger (21) is smaller than the maximum widthwise dimension (W2) at the portion where the lower left arm (24L) and the lower right arm (24R) are connected to the battery case (40), as described in claim 2.
4. The electric saddle-type vehicle according to claim 3, wherein the upper hanger (21) comprises a pair of upper left arm (23L) and upper right arm (23R) arranged on the left and right sides, and each of the upper left arm (23L) and upper right arm (23R) comprises a first extension portion (23a1) extending from the head pipe (2) toward the rear of the vehicle, a second extension portion (23a2) extending from the first extension portion (23a1) toward the rear of the vehicle and outward in the vehicle width direction, and a third extension portion (23a3) extending from the second extension portion (23a2) toward the rear of the vehicle and connected to the battery case (40).
5. The electric saddle-type vehicle according to claim 4, wherein the upper hanger (21) is a plate-shaped member, a first bent portion (23b1) with a bent shape is formed at the connection portion between the first extended portion (23a1) and the second extended portion (23a2), a second bent portion (23b2) with a bent shape is formed at the connection portion between the second extended portion (23a2) and the third extended portion (23a3), and the respective bending axes (Ab1, Ab2) of the first bent portion (23b1) and the second bent portion (23b2) are arranged substantially parallel to the axis (Ax) of the head pipe (2) in a side view.
6. The upper hanger (21) is a plate-shaped member, and the upper hanger (21) comprises a head pipe side fastening point (29a, 29b) fastened to the head pipe (2), and a battery case side fastening point (29c) fastened to the battery case (40), wherein, in the upper hanger (21), when the sides (21a, 21b) corresponding to the straight lines (T1, T2) connecting the head pipe side fastening point (29a, 29b) and the battery case side fastening point (29c) in a side view are defined as the upper side (21a) on the vehicle side and the lower side on the vehicle side is defined as the lower side (21b), the upper side (21a) is formed in a straight line in a side view, and the lower side (21b) is formed in a curved shape toward the vehicle in a side view, the electric saddle-type vehicle according to claim 4 or 5.
7. The electric saddle-type vehicle according to claim 6, wherein the upper edge (21a) extends in a direction substantially perpendicular to the axis (Ax) of the head pipe (2) in a side view and is connected to the battery case (40).
8. The rear frame (30) comprises a rear hanger (31) connected to the rear side of the battery case (40), a lower hanger (32) connected to the lower side of the battery case (40), and a pivot frame (33) connecting the rear hanger (31) and the lower hanger (32) and supporting the rear wheel (7) so as to be swingable, wherein the fastening points (29c, 29d, 34b, 34c) of the front frame (20) and the rear frame (30) to the battery case (40) are arranged in a side view to straddle a straight line (J) passing through the center point (P1) of the head pipe (2) and the contact point (P2) of the rear wheel (7), as described in any one of claims 2 to 7.
9. In a side view, the straight line (K1) passing between the respective fastening points (29c, 29d) of the upper hanger (21) and the lower hanger (22) to the battery case (40), and the straight line (K2) passing between the respective fastening points (34b, 34c) of the rear hanger (31) and the lower hanger (32) to the battery case (40), are arranged substantially parallel to each other, as described in claim 8.
10. The electric saddle-type vehicle according to any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein the upper hanger (21) has higher material strength than the head pipe (2) and the lower hanger (22).