Engine Support Structure for Saddled Vehicle Vibration Isolation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing engine support structures for saddled vehicles, such as motorcycles, fail to effectively inhibit engine vibration transmission to the vehicle body frame, causing deformation under external loads and reducing the engine's ability to act as a rigid frame member.

Innovation Solution

The engine support structure incorporates a pair of mounted portions on the engine and vehicle body frame with tuboid damper members that are elastically deformable in multiple directions, allowing the engine to act as a rigid frame member by absorbing and distributing external forces, thereby reducing vibration transmission and frame deformation.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Strength

If a through bolt rigidly connects right and left engine mounting portions, then the engine is firmly supported, but displacement of one mounting portion transmits to the other via the engine, reducing frame rigidity

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveengine support strengthVSAvoidframe rigidity
Core Design Contradiction:
StrengthVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces a damper member as an intermediary element between the engine and the engine mounting portions. This damper member absorbs displacement forces independently on each side, preventing the transmission of displacement from one mounting portion to the other through the engine. The damper acts as a mediator that decouples the rigid connection while maintaining support functionality.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent segments the engine support system into independent left and right mounting portions, each with its own damper member. This segmentation allows each side to handle displacement independently rather than as a coupled system, maintaining frame rigidity while providing flexible engine support. The engine mounting portions are separated into independent functional units.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Strength

If the engine is rigidly fixed to the vehicle body frame, then the engine is securely mounted, but engine vibration transmits directly to the frame and handlebars

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveengine mounting strengthVSAvoidvibration transmission
Core Design Contradiction:
StrengthVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The damper member serves as an intermediary element that decouples the rigid connection between the engine and the vehicle body frame. It maintains the mounting strength while filtering out harmful vibrations, allowing the engine to be securely mounted without direct vibration transmission to the frame and handlebars.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent converts the harmful vibration energy into beneficial elastic deformation of the damper member. The damper absorbs and dissipates vibration energy through its elastic properties, transforming the harmful vibrational forces into controlled deformation that protects the frame and handlebars from vibration damage.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #22Blessing in disguise (Convert harm into benefit)

3Object-affected harmful factors

If damper members are used to elastically support the engine, then vibration transmission is reduced, but the engine cannot effectively reinforce the frame under external loads

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvevibration transmissionVSAvoidframe reinforcement capability
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies local quality by providing damper members only at the engine mounting portions where vibration isolation is needed, while the engine itself and the vehicle body frame maintain their rigid structural properties. The damper's elastic property is localized to the mounting interface, allowing the engine to reinforce the frame under external loads while still isolating vibrations at the connection points.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

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 effectively prevents engine vibration from transmitting to the vehicle body frame and handlebars, allowing the engine to displace less under external forces, thus reinforcing the frame and reducing deformation, while maintaining improved rigidity and vibration absorption.

Implementation Method 1

the damper member is deformed by compression in the screwed direction between the proximal portion and the head of the bolt member

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectVibration: Vibration

Implementation Method 2

each of the mounted portions is mounted to a corresponding one of the engine mounting portions with at least one damper member provided there between to be independently elastically displaceable

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElasticity: Elasticity

Data Source

PatentEP3199440B1Engine support structure for saddled vehicle
Publication Date: 2019.07.31 KAWASAKI JUKOGYO KK
  • EP3199440B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3199440B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3199440B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

An engine support structure for a saddled vehicle inhibits transmission of engine vibration to a vehicle body frame and keeps rigidity of the vehicle body frame. The engine support structure for a saddled vehicle includes a pair of mounted portions (21) provided integrally with an engine (E) and disposed at lateral ends in a vehicle width direction of the engine (E), a pair of engine supporting brackets (27) disposed at lateral ends in the vehicle width direction of a vehicle body frame (1) and extending to the mounted portions (21), respectively, and engine mounting portions (31) provided at the brackets (27), respectively, in which each of the mounted portions (21) is mounted to a corresponding one of the engine mounting portions (31) with at least one damper member (51) provided therebetween to be independently elastically displaceable.