Motorcycle ECU Mounting on Engine Suspension Frame
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing saddle-ride or straddle type vehicles face challenges in reducing the length of harnesses and minimizing the influence of engine heat on the electronic control unit, both during travel and when stopped, while maintaining centralized mass and preventing increased vehicle width.
Innovation Solution
The electronic control unit is positioned such that at least part of one engine suspension portion is between the control unit and the cylinder unit, with a shielding portion and unit holding member configured to shield the control unit from heat, and a radiator positioned further rearward to direct airflow away from the control unit, allowing for shorter harness lengths and reduced heat influence.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Length of moving object
If the electronic control unit is arranged in the vicinity of the engine to shorten harnesses and centralize mass, then harness length is reduced and mass is centralized, but the control unit is influenced by heat from the engine
Solution Approach 1:
The body frame is divided into right and left main frames, with the control unit mounted on one main frame rather than being centrally positioned near the engine. This segmentation allows the control unit to be spatially separated from the engine while maintaining harness connection, reducing heat influence while keeping harness length manageable.
Solution Approach 2:
The main frame acts as an intermediary structure that mounts the control unit at a position away from the engine. By using the main frame as the mounting intermediary, the control unit is positioned in a location that is structurally connected to the vehicle but thermally isolated from the engine heat source.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If the control unit is positioned away from the engine to reduce heat influence, then heat influence is reduced, but harness length increases
Solution Approach 1:
The vehicle's electrical system is segmented into two zones: the engine area with the alternator and the frame-mounted area with the control unit. This segmentation allows optimal positioning of each component in its respective zone, with the harness serving as the connection between zones, balancing heat avoidance with harness length management.
Solution Approach 2:
The control unit is positioned in a different spatial dimension relative to the engine - mounted on the lateral surface of the main frame rather than in the central engine bay. This dimensional repositioning allows the control unit to be far from the engine in the longitudinal direction while maintaining reasonable harness length through the frame structure.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If the control unit is shielded from engine heat, then heat influence is reduced, but vehicle width increases
Solution Approach 1:
The control unit mounting position is dynamically determined by the geometry of the main frame rather than requiring a fixed lateral offset. By mounting the control unit on the lateral surface of the main frame, the effective width occupation is minimized while still achieving heat shielding through the frame structure itself.
Solution Approach 2:
The main frame serves as a thermal intermediary that blocks heat from reaching the control unit. The frame structure itself acts as the shielding barrier, eliminating the need for additional dedicated shielding components that would increase vehicle width.
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 effectively shields the electronic control unit from engine heat, shortens harness lengths, centralizes mass, and prevents vehicle width increase, improving maintainability and productivity while reducing heat influence during travel and stopping.
Implementation Method 1
the control unit is cooled by the air stream during the travelling of the motorcycle
Data Source
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AI summary
A motorcycle (100) comprising right and left main frames (1) extending in a vehicle rearward direction from a head pipe (3), the right and left main frames (1) each include a respective engine suspension portion (1b), a cylinder unit (71) of an engine unit (70) is supported by the pair of engine suspension portions (1b) wherein at least a part of the one engine suspension portion (1b) is positioned between an ECU (40) and the cylinder unit (71) in a vehicle width direction.