Motorcycle Flasher Unit Coupling Member Geometry
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Solution Overview
Problem
Motorcycles with large front wheel diameters face reduced interior space in the front cover due to the integration of flasher units, limiting accommodation space and component placement.
Innovation Solution
A flasher unit design with coupled flashers and a forwardly concave coupling member, allowing for reduced component count and separate headlamp placement, which maintains sufficient interior space by optimizing the shape and positioning of the flasher unit within the front cover.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If the flasher unit integrates the headlamp and flashers, then the number of components is reduced, but the accommodation space in the upper cover portion is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The flasher unit is segmented into separate flasher components that can be independently positioned, allowing the headlamp to be separated from the flasher unit. This segmentation enables the headlamp to be mounted in a different location (upper cover portion) while maintaining the flashers in their original position, thus preserving accommodation space.
Solution Approach 2:
The headlamp is repositioned from the horizontal plane (integrated with flashers) to a vertical dimension (upper cover portion above the front wheel). This dimensional change allows the headlamp to be mounted higher up, utilizing previously unused vertical space while maintaining the flasher unit's original footprint.
2Illumination intensity
If a large reflector is used in the headlamp, then sufficient light is supplied, but the accommodation space in the upper cover portion is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The headlamp with its reflector is extracted from the flasher unit integration. The reflector is taken out and mounted separately in the upper cover portion, allowing it to be positioned optimally for light reflection without constraining the flasher unit's design or reducing the overall accommodation space available for other components.
3Length of moving object
If the vertical dimension of the upper cover portion is reduced, then the motorcycle can accommodate larger front wheel diameter, but the accommodation space in the upper cover portion is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The headlamp is repositioned to utilize the vertical dimension of the upper cover portion, mounting it above the front wheel rather than integrating it horizontally with the flashers. This dimensional change allows the flasher unit to maintain its original horizontal footprint while the headlamp occupies the vertical space, preserving accommodation space even with larger wheel diameters.
Data Source
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AI summary
A motorcycle includes front and rear wheels (3) and (4), a front cover (21), a flasher unit (8) and a headlamp (28). An upper cover section (38) of the front cover (21) is disposed forward of a head pipe (11) while disposed above the front wheel (3). A lower cover section (39) of the front cover (21) is extended downward from the upper cover section (38) and is positioned rearward of the front wheel (3). Additionally, a vertical dimension of the upper cover section (38) is smaller than that of the lower cover section (39). The flasher unit (8) includes a pair of right and left flashers (41 and 42) and a coupling member (43) and is attached to the upper cover section (38). The coupling member (43) couples the flasher (41) and the flasher (42). In a plan view, the rear side of the coupling member (43) is formed in a linear shape or a forwardly convex shape. The headlamp (28) is disposed at a different height from the coupling member (43). This reduces the number of components of the flasher unit (8) and allows a sufficiently-big accommodation space in the interior of the front cover (21).