Engine Actuator Heat Protection via Lateral Spacing

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Solution Overview

Problem

In straddle-type vehicles with an up-type muffler, the actuator of an electronically controlled throttle is exposed to heat from the exhaust pipe, leading to potential damage, and existing solutions require increasing the seat height or lengthening the wheelbase to mitigate this issue.

Innovation Solution

The engine design includes a cylinder and cylinder head stacked on a crankcase, with an electronically controlled throttle interposed in the intake passage behind the cylinder head, and an exhaust pipe extending rearward through the side of the cylinder. The actuator is positioned on the opposite side of the exhaust pipe with respect to the vehicle centerline, ensuring sufficient spacing and preventing heat damage.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Object-affected harmful factors

If the actuator is positioned close to the exhaust pipe to reduce vehicle size, then the vehicle size is reduced, but the actuator is exposed to heat damage

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveheat exposure to actuatorVSAvoidvehicle size

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSLength of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent positions the actuator on the opposite side of the exhaust pipe with respect to the vehicle center line, utilizing the width dimension to create spatial separation. This lateral arrangement allows the actuator to be sufficiently distant from the heat source while maintaining a compact overall vehicle footprint, resolving the contradiction between heat protection and size reduction.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

2Reliability

If the seat height is raised or wheelbase is lengthened to move the actuator away from the exhaust pipe, then the actuator is protected from heat, but the vehicle size increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveactuator protection from heat damageVSAvoidvehicle size

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLength of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of increasing vehicle length through raised seat height or lengthened wheelbase, the patent utilizes the width dimension by positioning the actuator on the opposite side of the exhaust pipe relative to the vehicle center line. This approach achieves actuator protection while maintaining compact vehicle dimensions.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

3Ease of operation

If the electronically controlled throttle is interposed in the intake passage behind the cylinder head, then the throttle control is optimized, but the actuator is exposed to exhaust pipe heat

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvethrottle controlVSAvoidheat exposure to actuator

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent maintains the optimized throttle control arrangement in the intake passage behind the cylinder head while protecting the actuator by positioning it on the opposite side of the exhaust pipe. This lateral separation in the width dimension allows both optimal throttle control and heat protection to coexist.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

Data Source

PatentUS12270363B2Engine

Publication Date: 2025.04.08 SUZUKI MOTOR CORP

AI summary

An engine includes a cylinder and a cylinder head stacked on an upper portion of a crankcase, an electronically controlled throttle interposed in an intake passage behind the cylinder head, and an exhaust pipe extending rearward from the cylinder head through a side of the cylinder. The electronically controlled throttle includes a throttle valve provided in the intake passage and an actuator that opens and closes the throttle valve. The actuator is disposed on an opposite side of the exhaust pipe with respect to a vehicle center line extending in a vehicle front-rear direction.