Straddle-Type Vehicle Fuel Hose Clamp Relocation

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Solution Overview

Problem

The existing straddle-type vehicle designs, such as those described in JP 4,176,456, result in a long fuel hose length due to bends at the connection between the rear frames and the main frame, which affects fuel flow efficiency.

Innovation Solution

A straddle-type vehicle design where the fuel hose extends along one of the rear frames and includes a clamp positioned away from the front frame, reducing the bend and improving fuel flow efficiency without a complex structure, with additional clamps and covers facilitating easy removal and adjustment.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the fuel hose is clamped to both the rear frame and the main frame and extends along these frames, then the fuel hose is securely positioned, but the fuel hose bends at the connection position between the rear frames and the main frame, resulting in a large length and reduced fuel flow efficiency

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefuel hose positioning stabilityVSAvoidfuel flow efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts the clamping function from the front frame and relocates it to the rear frame only. By removing the clamp from the front frame and repositioning it on the rear frame, the fuel hose is allowed to extend directly from the fuel tank to the fuel supply unit without bending at the connection between the rear frame and main frame, thus improving fuel flow efficiency while maintaining secure positioning through the rear frame clamp alone

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the spatial arrangement of the fuel hose by having it extend in a different path - directly from the fuel tank along the rear frame to the fuel supply unit, rather than following the traditional path along both the rear frame and main frame. This dimensional repositioning eliminates the bend at the frame connection and reduces the overall hose length

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

2Productivity

If the fuel hose extends directly from the fuel tank to the fuel supply unit with minimal bends, then fuel flow efficiency is improved, but the hose may become loose or improperly positioned

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefuel flow efficiencyVSAvoidfuel hose positioning stability
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts the clamping function from the front frame and relocates it to the rear frame only. By removing the clamp from the front frame and repositioning it on the rear frame, the fuel hose is allowed to extend directly from the fuel tank to the fuel supply unit without bending at the connection between the rear frame and main frame, thus improving fuel flow efficiency while maintaining secure positioning through the rear frame clamp alone

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The rear frame serves as an intermediary structure that provides both the mounting path for the fuel hose and the clamping location. By using the rear frame as the sole clamp mounting location, the system achieves both linear hose extension for efficiency and secure positioning through the intermediary rear frame structure

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentEP2639146B1Straddle-type vehicle
Publication Date: 2014.05.14 YAMAHA MOTOR CO LTD
  • EP2639146B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2639146B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2639146B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A fuel hose (49) includes a first portion extending along a rear frame (24) and a second portion (49d) between a fuel supply unit (34) and the first portion extending along the rear frame (24). A clamp (64f) of a center cover (60) clamps the hose front portion (49d) of the fuel hose (49) at a position located away from a front frame (22) toward the outside in the vehicle width direction. This structure reduces a bend of the fuel hose (49).