Straddle Vehicle Carrier Support Rigidity via Vertical Linkage
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Solution Overview
Problem
Straddle-type vehicles face challenges in maintaining high carrier support rigidity while avoiding increased vehicle size, particularly when traveling on rough roads or leaning, due to the generation of shearing forces and bending moments that lead to vibration and interference with other components.
Innovation Solution
The vehicle design includes a linkage system with a lower cross member that supports carrier supports at positions shifted in the up-and-down direction, providing multiple fixing portions to disperse loads and maintain stability, and a lamp attachment for illumination, allowing for increased rigidity without enlarging the vehicle's size.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If the pipe diameter of the carrier support is increased to increase rigidity and reduce vibration, then the support rigidity is improved, but the fixing portion and carrier support interfere with other members when the vehicle leans, requiring a larger linkage
Solution Approach 1:
The patent positions the two carrier supports at different heights (up-and-down direction) rather than side-by-side, utilizing the vertical dimension to separate the supports spatially. This dimensional change allows the supports to be closer in horizontal distance without interfering with other members during leaning, thereby maintaining rigidity without increasing vehicle width or linkage size.
Solution Approach 2:
The carrier support function is divided into two separate carrier supports rather than using a single large support. This segmentation allows the load to be distributed across multiple points at different heights, achieving the required rigidity and vibration reduction while keeping each individual support compact and avoiding interference with other vehicle members.
2Stability of the object's composition
If the rigidity of the fixing portion is increased to support the larger carrier support, then the support stability is improved, but the peripheral structure of the fixing portion is increased in size, causing interference with other members
Solution Approach 1:
The fixing portions are positioned at different vertical heights on the lower cross member, utilizing the up-and-down direction rather than horizontal space. This allows the fixing portions to be compact in horizontal area while maintaining stability through their distributed vertical positioning, avoiding interference with other members during vehicle operation.
3Ease of operation
If a cantilever support structure is used for the carrier, then the carrier can be supported, but large shearing forces and bending moments are generated in the carrier support under load
Solution Approach 1:
The single cantilever support is segmented into two separate carrier supports positioned at different heights. This segmentation distributes the load-bearing function across multiple support points, reducing the shearing forces and bending moments on each individual support compared to a single cantilever structure carrying the entire load.
Solution Approach 2:
By adding the vertical dimension to the support arrangement (positioning supports at different heights), the structure creates a more distributed load path that reduces concentrated forces. The vertical separation allows for better force distribution and reduced bending moments compared to a horizontal arrangement.
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 enhances the stability and rigidity of the carrier support while preventing interference with other components, ensuring stable attachment and improved loading performance even when the vehicle leans or travels on rough roads.
Implementation Method 1
a right shock absorber that supports the right front wheel at a lower portion thereof and absorbs a relative displacement of the right front wheel with respect to the linkage; a left shock absorber that supports the left front wheel at a lower portion thereof and absorbs a relative displacement of the left front wheel with respect to the linkage
Data Source
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AI summary
Provided is a straddle-type vehicle having high support rigidity for a carrier while preventing an increase in size of the vehicle. A straddle-type vehicle includes a body frame, a right front wheel, a left front wheel, a linkage that changes a relative position of front wheels connected to the right front wheel and the left front wheel, and a carrier disposed ahead of the linkage, in which the linkage includes an upper cross member and a lower cross member, the upper cross member and the lower cross member are connected to the body frame so as to be able to rotate about respective rotation axes, the carrier is supported on the lower cross member by a plurality of carrier supports, and at least two carrier supports are provided at positions shifted in an up-and-down direction when viewed from a side of the vehicle.