Motorcycle Air Cleaner Above Engine Unit

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional motorcycle designs face restrictions in increasing the volume of the air cleaner due to interference with the rear suspension, limiting its size and functionality.

Innovation Solution

The motorcycle design positions the air cleaner above the engine unit and arranges the suspension unit on one side of the rear wheel, allowing the air cleaner to occupy empty space without interfering with the suspension, thereby enabling an increase in volume while maintaining suspension efficiency and storage capacity.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Volume of moving object

If the air cleaner is arranged forwardly of the rear suspension, then the air cleaner can be positioned in a conventional location, but the volume of the air cleaner is restricted due to interference with the rear suspension

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvevolume of air cleanerVSAvoidinterference with rear suspension
Core Design Contradiction:
Volume of moving objectVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The air cleaner is repositioned from a forward arrangement (horizontal dimension relative to rear suspension) to an upward arrangement (vertical dimension above engine unit). This dimensional change allows the air cleaner to occupy empty space above the engine unit without interfering with the rear suspension's operational path, thereby increasing volume while avoiding interference.

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

2Quantity of substance

If the air cleaner volume is increased, then better air filtration performance is achieved, but interference with the rear suspension occurs

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveair intake capacityVSAvoidinterference with rear suspension
Core Design Contradiction:
Quantity of substanceVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

By moving the air cleaner to a vertical position above the engine unit, the design accesses previously unused vertical space. This allows the air cleaner housing to be enlarged in volume to improve air intake capacity for the engine, while the horizontal rear suspension remains unaffected and can operate without interference.

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

3Device complexity

If the suspension is arranged vertically, then the suspension structure is simplified, but the air cleaner volume is restricted

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesuspension structure complexityVSAvoidvolume of air cleaner
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSVolume of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The solution maintains the vertical suspension arrangement for structural simplicity while resolving the volume restriction by changing the air cleaner's position to above the engine unit. This creates separate spatial zones where the vertical suspension operates in its original plane and the air cleaner expands vertically above the engine, eliminating the trade-off between suspension simplicity and air cleaner volume.

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

Data Source

PatentEP1864897B1Motorcycle
Publication Date: 2009.09.30 YAMAHA MOTOR CO LTD
  • EP1864897B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP1864897B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP1864897B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A motorcycle (1) comprises a body frame (2) and an engine unit (8), wherein a front portion of the engine unit (8) is pivotally mounted on the body frame (2) and a rear portion supports a rear wheel (7). An air cleaner (36) is provided and is adapted to supply air to the engine unit (8), wherein the air cleaner (36) is arranged above the engine unit (8).