Curved Connecting Member Damping Structure for Straddle Vehicles
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional straddle-type vehicles face challenges in effectively suppressing vibrations while maintaining comfort, as existing damping structures increase costs and require lateral shifting of components, which complicates damper placement and interferes with other components like air cleaners.
Innovation Solution
A damping structure for straddle-type vehicles featuring a damper, connecting member, and link, where the connecting member is curved to position the damper below a plane defined by the central axes of the connection members, avoiding interference and allowing for efficient vibration suppression without increasing costs.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If a gently arcuate connecting member is used for connection between the link and the rear arm, then the connection is achieved, but the connecting member cannot make it possible to arrange the damper below and increases cost
Solution Approach 1:
The connecting member is designed with a curved shape instead of a straight configuration. This curvature allows the connecting member to clear the damper when it is in the fully extended position, enabling the damper to be arranged below the connecting member without requiring lateral shifting of components, thus avoiding additional bearing costs while achieving the desired compact arrangement
Solution Approach 2:
The solution moves the arrangement problem from a two-dimensional lateral shift to a three-dimensional vertical arrangement. By curving the connecting member downward, the damper can be positioned below the plane defined by the central axes of the connections at both ends of the connecting member, utilizing the vertical dimension to resolve the spatial conflict without increasing device complexity
2Area of stationary object
If the damper is made short to ensure space above the damper, then space is ensured, but vibration suppression capability is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The curved connecting member creates vertical space above the damper by arching downward, allowing other components such as air cleaners to be positioned above the damper without requiring the damper to be shortened. This maintains the damper's full length and vibration suppression capability while ensuring adequate space for other components
3Device complexity
If the link and connecting member are shifted laterally to arrange the damper below, then the damper can be arranged below, but a corresponding bearing is needed leading to cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of laterally shifting the link and connecting member which would require additional bearings, the connecting member is curved downward to clear the damper in the fully extended position. This allows the damper to be arranged below without lateral shifting, avoiding the need for additional bearings and the associated cost increase
Data Source
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AI summary
The present invention relates to a straddle-type vehicle comprising a damping structure for damping a rear arm pivotally connected to a vehicle body and supporting a rear wheel, said damping structure comprising a damper pivotally connected to the vehicle body, a connecting member pivotally connected to the rear arm, and a link pivotally connected to the vehicle body, to the damper and to the connecting member, respectively, wherein a lower end of the damper, in a fully extended state of the damper, is positioned below a plane defined by the central axis of the connections at both ends of the connection member.