Motorcycle Flasher Cover Wind Shield Design

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Solution Overview

Problem

The challenge is to create a motorcycle design that balances compactness around the headlight for improved bearing strength and visibility of both the headlight and flasher while minimizing wind resistance, as lengthening the flasher leg increases wind resistance and potentially reduces bearing strength.

Innovation Solution

The design features a headlight cover and side cover arrangement where the side cover's upper surface portion covers the flasher's leg portion from above and front, positioning the flasher closer to the headlight's center of gravity, and includes a rear portion with upper and lower sections to protect the flasher from wind, reducing resistance and enhancing bearing strength.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Loss of information

If the leg portion of the flasher is lengthened to increase the distance between the headlight and flasher for visibility, then the visibility of both headlight and flasher is improved, but the wind resistance increases and bearing strength may be reduced

Engineering Contradiction:
ImprovevisibilityVSAvoidwind resistance
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of informationVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The side cover acts as an intermediary element that shields the flasher leg portion from wind. The upper surface portion of the side cover is positioned to cover the flasher from above and front, creating a protective barrier that reduces wind resistance on the extended leg while maintaining the necessary visibility distance

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Loss of information

If the leg portion of the flasher is lengthened to increase the distance between the headlight and flasher, then the visibility of both headlight and flasher is improved, but the bearing strength of the flasher may be reduced

Engineering Contradiction:
ImprovevisibilityVSAvoidbearing strength
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of informationVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The side cover serves as a protective intermediary that reduces the mechanical stress from wind load on the flasher leg. By positioning the upper surface portion to cover the flasher, the side cover absorbs and redirects wind forces, allowing the leg to be longer without compromising bearing strength

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The side cover converts the harmful wind resistance into a beneficial protective function. The upper surface portion is designed to intercept wind before it reaches the flasher leg, transforming the wind force that would otherwise weaken the structure into a controlled flow pattern that actually protects the extended leg portion

Inventive Principle:
Principle #22Blessing in disguise (Convert harm into benefit)

3Strength

If the structure around the headlight is made compact to improve bearing strength, then the bearing strength is improved, but the visibility of flasher may be compromised

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvebearing strengthVSAvoidvisibility
Core Design Contradiction:
StrengthVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The flasher is positioned in the vertical dimension (above the headlight bulb) rather than extending horizontally, which would compromise compactness. The leg portion connects the horizontally separated flasher to the supporting member, allowing visibility in the horizontal plane while maintaining a compact vertical structure that preserves bearing strength

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

Data Source

PatentEP2792583B1Motorcycle
Publication Date: 2015.08.05 YAMAHA MOTOR CO LTD
  • EP2792583B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2792583B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2792583B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A motorcycle comprising a headligt cover covering lateral sides of a headlight (21), a side cover (23) a front edge (51) of which as seen in a side view of the vehicle is disposed rearward of a front edge (43) of the headlight cover, a flasher (31) disposed above a headlight bulb and below an upper end of the headlight (21) wherein the side cover (23) includes an upper surface portion (61) which is disposed so as to cover at least a portion of a leg portion (311) of the flasher (31) from above and from the front and the upper surface portion (61) extends from a position below and forwad of the flasher (31) to a position above and rearward o the flasher (31) as seen in a side view of the vehicle.