Knock Sensor Mounting Boss Positioning in Unit Swing Engine

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Solution Overview

Problem

In unit swing engines for straddle-type vehicles, the attachment and detachment of knock sensors are complicated due to their placement below the intake system, leading to increased seat height and interference with the intake pipe, which complicates the mounting process and affects knocking detection accuracy.

Innovation Solution

A knock sensor mounting structure is designed where the mounting boss on the cylinder block is positioned to avoid overlapping with the intake pipe, with the screw axis offset to prevent interference, allowing the intake pipe to be placed at a lower position, and the knock sensor is mounted on a boss that projects outward, facilitating attachment and detachment while improving knocking detection accuracy.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the knock sensor is disposed immediately below the intake system including the intake pipe, then the knock sensor can be protected from stones and dirt flying from the ground, but the attachment/detachment work becomes complicated and the intake pipe must be disposed at a higher position which increases seat height

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveprotection of knock sensor from stones and dirtVSAvoidattachment/detachment work of knock sensor
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The mounting boss is designed to project outward from the side wall of the cylinder block in the widthwise direction, moving the knock sensor mounting position from the vertical dimension (below intake pipe) to the lateral dimension (side of cylinder block). This dimensional shift allows the sensor to be accessible from the side for easy attachment/detachment while maintaining protection from ground debris, and enables the intake pipe to be positioned lower without interfering with sensor maintenance.

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

2Device complexity

If the intake pipe is disposed at a higher position to prevent the knock sensor from protruding upward and interfering with the intake pipe, then interference with the intake pipe is avoided, but the height of the riding seat must be increased

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveinterference between knock sensor and intake pipeVSAvoidheight of riding seat
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSLength of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

By relocating the knock sensor mounting position to the side of the cylinder block rather than below the intake pipe, the invention resolves the spatial conflict between the sensor and intake pipe in the vertical dimension. This allows the intake pipe to be positioned lower, reducing the overall height requirement and enabling a lower riding seat while maintaining proper clearance between components.

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

3Ease of manufacture

If the mounting boss is formed on the upper wall of the cylinder block at a position overlapping with the intake pipe, then the knock sensor can be mounted on the cylinder block, but the intake pipe gets in the way during attachment/detachment work

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemounting of knock sensor on cylinder blockVSAvoidattachment/detachment work of knock sensor
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The mounting boss is extracted from the upper wall of the cylinder block and repositioned on the side wall, projecting outward in the widthwise direction. This extraction removes the conflict with the intake pipe routing, allowing the knock sensor to be mounted securely on the cylinder block while enabling accessible attachment/detachment operations from the side without interference from the intake pipe.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

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 simplifies the attachment and detachment of the knock sensor, reduces seat height interference, and enhances knocking detection accuracy by positioning the sensor to effectively detect vibrations without interference from the intake pipe or cam chain noise.

Implementation Method 1

a knock sensor to detect knocking is fastened, with a screw member, to a mounting boss formed on an upper wall of the cylinder block

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectPiezoelectric effect: Piezoelectric Effect

Data Source

PatentEP2960479B1Knock sensor mounting structure in unit swing engine
Publication Date: 2021.12.01 HONDA MOTOR CO LTD
  • EP2960479B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2960479B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2960479B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

To enable attachment/detachment work of a knock sensor to be facilitated and an intake system to be disposed at a low position in a unit swing engine in which: an intake pipe that stands upward from a cylinder head of an engine main unit, swingably supported by a frame body with a cylinder axis tilting forward, and extends rearward above the cylinder head and a cylinder block is connected to an upper wall of the cylinder head; and a knock sensor is fastened, with a screw member, to a mounting boss formed on an upper wall of the cylinder block. A mounting boss 51 is formed on an upper wall 26a of a cylinder block 26 at such a position as to avoid overlapping with an intake pipe 35 as seen in a direction along a screw axis SC of a screw member 53.