Motorcycle Front Fender Step Design for Rigidity and Clearance
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing front fenders for motorcycles face design limitations due to the need for sufficient clearance to prevent contact with vehicle frame members, which restricts the degree of freedom in design and rigidity, especially in the most compressed conditions of the front forks.
Innovation Solution
A front fender design featuring a step positioned rearward of the front forks, where the rear portion is closer to the front wheel than the front portion, allowing for increased clearance and rigidity without adding weight, achieved through a shape that positions the rear end closer to the wheel than the front end and incorporating reinforcing members and color-coding for weight reduction.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If the front fender is increased in size to secure rigidity, then the rigidity is improved, but the clearance between the front fender and vehicle frame members is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The front fender is divided into multiple sections with different longitudinal positions. The rear section is positioned closer to the front wheel than the front section, creating a stepped configuration. This segmentation allows the rear portion to provide rigidity support near the wheel while the front portion maintains clearance from vehicle frame members, resolving the contradiction between rigidity and clearance requirements.
2Reliability
If sufficient clearance is maintained to prevent contact with vehicle frame members, then the reliability is improved, but the degree of freedom in design is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The front fender transitions from a conventional smooth longitudinal profile to a stepped configuration that utilizes the longitudinal dimension differently. By creating a step where the rear section is closer to the wheel than the front section, the design gains freedom in positioning and shaping while maintaining necessary clearances, thus improving both reliability and design freedom.
Data Source
AI summary
A front fender (10) is fixed to a front fork (20) for supporting a front wheel (110). The front fender (10) covers an upper side of the front wheel (110). The front fender (10) is provided with a step (15) at a portion located rearward of the front fork (20). The step (15) has such a shape that a rear portion (11B) rearward of the portion provided with the step (15) is closer to the front wheel (110) than a front portion (11A).