Leaning Vehicle Frame Damage Notification
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Solution Overview
Problem
Leaning vehicles with frames made of fiber-reinforced resin face issues with rigidity loss during falls, leading to internal damage that is difficult to detect, affecting ride quality and safety.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating a damage notification unit that detects and notifies the rider of internal damage to the frame, using methods such as electric wire breaks or color-changing layers, to ensure timely maintenance and reduce ride quality changes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Weight of moving object
If the leaning frame structure is made of fiber-reinforced resin to decrease weight, then weight reduction is achieved, but rigidity becomes low and internal damage occurs during falls
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs fiber-reinforced resin as a composite material to create the leaning frame structure. This composite material provides both weight reduction and sufficient strength by combining the lightweight properties of resin with the high strength-to-weight ratio of fiber reinforcements, resolving the contradiction between weight reduction and maintaining frame rigidity.
2Weight of moving object
If the leaning frame structure is made of fiber-reinforced resin to decrease weight, then weight reduction is achieved, but damage detection becomes difficult as internal damage is not visible on the outer surface
Solution Approach 1:
The patent incorporates a color-changing layer within the fiber-reinforced resin frame structure. When internal damage occurs, this layer changes color to provide visual indication of the damage location, making previously undetectable internal damage visible through the outer surface while maintaining the weight benefits of the composite material.
3Weight of moving object
If the rigidity of the leaning frame structure is low, then weight reduction is achieved, but ride quality changes occur
Solution Approach 1:
The patent optimizes the fiber reinforcement parameters within the resin matrix, including fiber orientation, density, and distribution, to achieve the minimum rigidity threshold required for maintaining acceptable ride quality. This parameter optimization allows the frame to be as lightweight as possible while still providing sufficient structural stiffness for comfortable operation.
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
The solution effectively reduces the frequency of internal frame damage and enhances safety by providing early notification of internal damage, maintaining ride quality and weight reduction in leaning vehicles.
Implementation Method 1
frames of the two-wheeled motorcycle are made of the fiber-reinforced resin containing carbon fibers to decrease the weight and increase the strength
Data Source
AI summary
This leaning vehicle that turns in a leaning posture and has a leaning frame structure made of a material containing fiber-reinforced resin can achieve weight reduction and help reduce changes in ride quality. The vehicle includes a rear structure that leans to the left during a left turn and leans to the right during a right turn with respect to the left-right direction of the vehicle, and is made of a material containing carbon-fiber-reinforced resin, and a leaning frame structure damage notification unit that, when the rear structure receives an impact caused by a fall of the vehicle in the left direction or the right direction, and the impact damages a non-visible part of the rear structure, makes a notification of the damage.