Motorcycle Engine Unit Direct Support and Damping for Vibration Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional motorcycles with unit swing type engine units experience delays in responsiveness during start and acceleration due to linkage systems, leading to insufficient feeling of directness and transmission of engine vibrations to the rider.
Innovation Solution
A motorcycle design featuring a balancer mechanism on the engine unit to suppress primary inertial force vibrations, combined with a damping mechanism on the vibration transmission path between the rider and the vehicle body, allowing direct support of the engine unit on the body frame to enhance responsiveness and reduce vibration transmission.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If a linkage is used to support the engine unit on the body frame to suppress engine vibrations, then vibration transmission is reduced, but the responsiveness during start and acceleration deteriorates due to delay
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the linkage from between the engine unit and body frame, directly supporting the engine unit on the body frame to eliminate the delay in responsiveness. The harmful vibration transmission is then addressed separately by positioning the balancer mechanism's inertial force generation point away from the engine unit's center of gravity, rather than using a linkage to suppress vibrations.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a damper as an intermediary element arranged between the engine unit and the body frame. This damper suppresses vibrations caused by the inertial force of the balancer mechanism while allowing the engine unit to be directly supported on the body frame, thus maintaining responsiveness during start and acceleration.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If a balancer mechanism is added to suppress all engine vibrations including secondary vibrations, then vibration suppression is improved, but device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by specifically targeting the suppression of vibrations caused by the primary inertial force of the balancer mechanism, rather than attempting to suppress all types of engine vibrations. The inertial force generation point is positioned at a specific location away from the center of gravity to address particular vibration frequencies, avoiding the need for a complex multi-frequency balancer system.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses a simplified balancer mechanism that generates inertial force to counteract primary vibrations, rather than implementing a complex system that would address all vibration frequencies. The damper serves as a supplementary element that handles the remaining vibrations, allowing the balancer mechanism itself to remain relatively simple.
3Speed
If the engine unit is directly supported on the body frame without linkage, then responsiveness is improved, but engine vibrations and road surface vibrations are transmitted to the rider
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a damper as an intermediary element arranged between the engine unit and the body frame. This damper specifically targets and suppresses vibrations caused by the inertial force of the balancer mechanism, allowing the engine unit to be directly supported on the body frame for improved responsiveness while preventing vibration transmission to the rider.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent separates the functions of vibration suppression and support by removing the linkage and using a dedicated damper element. This allows the engine unit to be directly supported on the body frame for responsiveness while the damper specifically addresses vibration suppression, preventing transmission to the rider.
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 improves the feeling of directness during start and acceleration while effectively inhibiting engine and road surface vibrations from being transmitted to the rider, enhancing riding comfort and responsiveness without increasing the complexity or cost of the engine unit.
Implementation Method 1
an inertial force generating portion arranged away from a center of gravity of the engine unit in the engine unit; wherein the inertial force generating portion generates an inertial force in a direction opposite to a direction in which a primary inertial force of the engine unit acts
Implementation Method 2
a damping mechanism arranged on a distal portion of a vibration transmission path, at which a rider's body and the vehicle body contact with each other
Data Source
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AI summary
It is aimed at increasing a feeling of directness at the time of start and at the time of acceleration and inhibiting engine vibrations and vibrations from the road surface from being transmitted to a rider. A motorcycle comprises a vehicle body having a body frame, an engine unit having a balancer mechanism, which suppresses engine vibrations caused by a primary inertial force, and supported directly on the body frame to be able to swing vertically, and a damping mechanism arranged on a distal portion of a vibration transmission path in the vicinity of a region, in which a rider's body and the vehicle body contact.