Straddled Vehicle ABS Unit Positioning for Maintenance Access
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional motorcycles face difficulties in maintaining the ABS unit without removing the fuel tank, as it is typically obstructed by the fuel tank, making direct access challenging.
Innovation Solution
The ABS unit is positioned farther forward in the vehicle, allowing access without removing the fuel tank, and the hydraulic pipes are rerouted and modified with metal tube members to prevent brake fluid crystallization and ensure curvature and length compatibility with the handlebar rotation and steering device stroke.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of repair
If the ABS unit is disposed below the fuel tank and above the main frame (conventional position), then the fuel tank can cover the ABS unit for aesthetic purposes, but the fuel tank blocks access to the ABS unit making maintenance difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The ABS unit is repositioned from a location beneath the fuel tank to a location above the fuel tank, utilizing the vertical dimension to resolve the accessibility conflict. This dimensional change allows maintenance personnel to access the ABS unit from the top side without removing the fuel tank, while the fuel tank continues to provide aesthetic coverage when viewed from the front or sides of the vehicle.
2Ease of repair
If the ABS unit is moved farther frontward to improve maintainability, then the ABS unit becomes accessible without removing the fuel tank, but the length of hydraulic pipes is shortened making it difficult to secure necessary curvature and length
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the material parameter of the hydraulic pipe from conventional flexible hose to metal piping. This parameter change allows the use of longer pipe lengths with appropriate bends and elbows to achieve the necessary curvature for handlebar rotation and steering device stroke, while accommodating the forward repositioning of the ABS unit for improved maintainability.
3Reliability
If steel piping with copper plating is used to prevent antioxidant crystallization, then brake fluid crystallization is prevented, but the pipe length must be sufficient which conflicts with the shortened pipe length due to ABS unit repositioning
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the material parameter of the hydraulic pipe from conventional flexible hose to metal piping with copper plating on the inner surface. This parameter change serves dual purposes: it prevents antioxidant crystallization in the brake fluid through the copper plating's chemical properties, and it provides sufficient length and structural rigidity to accommodate the forward repositioning of the ABS unit while maintaining necessary curvature for steering operations.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This configuration improves maintainability of the ABS unit, allows easier removal of hydraulic pipes, and prevents brake fluid crystallization, ensuring effective operation and reduced heat transfer from the engine.
Implementation Method 1
the brake fluid flowing through the upper hydraulic pipe and the lower hydraulic pipe contains antioxidants. As such, when applying the front wheel brake, steel piping with copper plating on the inner surface is provided in a portion of the upper hydraulic pipe and/or the lower hydraulic pipe to prevent the antioxidants in the brake fluid from crystallizing
Data Source
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AI summary
A straddled vehicle is provided to improve the maintainability of an ABS unit and to suitably route the upper hydraulic pipe and the lower hydraulic pipe in the straddled vehicle. With a straddled vehicle, an ABS unit 13 is disposed downward from a main frame 22a, rearward from a down frame 22b, upward from a lower end 21a of a head pipe 21, and upward from a head cover 17 of an engine 10, in a vehicle side view. The ABS unit 13 is disposed on a side opposite a hydraulic brake 9 with respect to a vehicle center line L1 in a vehicle plan view. In this state, a first connected portion 52 and a second connected portion 53 are disposed frontward from a fuel tank 11 on an upper surface 51a of the ABS unit 13.