Lower Cowl Groove Redirects Airflow to Reduce Rear Wheel Drag
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing saddle-ride type vehicles with cowl configurations on the lower portion of the vehicle body experience increased air resistance and reduced stability due to air hitting the rear wheel, as existing designs fail to effectively manage airflow around the rear wheel.
Innovation Solution
A lower cowl with a groove-shaped depressed portion is positioned on the front side of the rear wheel, featuring an increasing cross-sectional area and width towards the rear, and downward-projecting wall portions to redirect airflow, reducing air resistance and stabilizing the vehicle.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If a cowl covers the lower portion of the vehicle body, then aerodynamic characteristics improve, but air gathers and hits the rear wheel causing increased travelling resistance
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the harmful airflow that would otherwise hit the rear wheel by creating a dedicated drainage groove structure. This groove channels the airflow away from the rear wheel area, separating the harmful air flow path from the vehicle's lower portion and eliminating the travelling resistance caused by air impacting the rear wheel.
Solution Approach 2:
The drainage groove acts as an intermediary structure between the cowl and the rear wheel. It mediates the airflow by providing a controlled path for the air to drain laterally, preventing direct impact on the rear wheel while maintaining the aerodynamic benefits of the cowl coverage.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If a cowl covers the lower portion of the vehicle body, then aerodynamic characteristics improve, but the rear wheel receives lifting force decreasing vehicle stability
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the harmful lifting force effect by extracting the airflow away from the rear wheel through the drainage groove. By channeling the air laterally along the groove, the system prevents the air from generating upward lift on the rear wheel, thereby maintaining vehicle stability while preserving aerodynamic efficiency.
3Shape
If existing cowl configurations are used, then vehicle coverage is provided, but airflow is not effectively managed around the rear wheel
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the lower cowl structure by incorporating a distinct drainage groove feature. This segmentation creates a dedicated airflow management pathway within the cowl structure, allowing effective control and direction of airflow around the rear wheel area while maintaining overall cowl integrity and coverage.
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
The solution effectively decreases air resistance and improves vehicle stability by slowing down airflow hitting the rear wheel, thereby reducing the lifting force and enhancing cornering stability, especially at higher speeds.
Implementation Method 1
The depressed portion is disposed on the front side of the rear wheel. A cross-sectional area of the depressed portion taken in a direction perpendicular to the front-rear direction of the vehicle increases in area toward a rear side of the vehicle
Data Source
AI summary
A motorcycle includes a lower cowl that covers a lower portion of a vehicle. At least a part of the lower cowl is disposed on a front side of a rear wheel. The lower cowl includes a groove-shaped depressed portion on a lower portion. The depressed portion extends in a front-rear direction of the vehicle, and a lower side and a rear side of the depressed portion are opened. The depressed portion is disposed on the front side of the rear wheel. A cross-sectional area of the depressed portion taken in a direction perpendicular to the front-rear direction of the vehicle increases in area toward a rear side of the vehicle.