Front Cover Stiffness via Segmented Overlap Design
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Solution Overview
Problem
Saddle-ride type vehicles face challenges in enhancing the stiffness of the front cover without compromising accessibility to the engine unit and rider comfort, as increased stiffness often reduces the size of the opening for maintenance and narrows the space for the rider's feet.
Innovation Solution
The design incorporates a front cover with a first and second portion, where the second portion is positioned laterally outwards and partially overlaps the first, with a recessed shape to enhance stiffness while maintaining a large opening for maintenance and foot space, and includes fins and apertures for improved cooling and protection.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If the front cover is reduced in size by further forwardly extending the lateral-side cover to enhance stiffness, then the stiffness of the front cover is improved, but the opening for engine unit maintenance is reduced in size
Solution Approach 1:
The front cover is divided into a first front cover portion (middle portion) and a second front cover portion (lateral portions), allowing independent optimization of each segment. The first portion can be extended forward to enhance stiffness without compromising the opening size for engine maintenance, as the second portion can be configured to maintain adequate access space.
2Strength
If the surrounding space of the front cover is reduced to enhance stiffness, then the stiffness of the front cover is improved, but the space for rider's feet is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The front cover structure implements local quality by concentrating stiffness enhancement in the first front cover portion (middle portion) while maintaining adequate space in the second front cover portion (lateral portions) for rider's feet. This allows different regions of the front cover to have different functional priorities - structural rigidity where needed and space provision where required.
Data Source
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AI summary
A saddle-ride type vehicle comprising a vehicle body frame (2), a seat (6) an engine unit (7) a footboard (16) a front cover (18) and a side cover (19). the front cover (18) is at least partially disposed in front of the engine unit (7). The side cover (19) is formed separately from the front cover (18). The front cover (18) includes a first front cover portion (32) and a second front cover portion (33). The first front cover portion (32) is shaped for extending in a vehicle transverse direction while passing through a vehicle center in the vehicle transverse direction and for extending rearwards. The second front cover portion (33) is disposed rearwards of a front edge section of the first front cover portion (32). The second front cover portion (33) is disposed outwardly lateral to the first front cover portion (32). A front edge section of the second front cover portion (33) is overlapped with the first front cover portion (32) in a vehicle side view. The front edge section of the second front cover portion (33) includes a backwardly recessed shape.