Motorcycle Intake Passage Vertical Arrangement
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional motorcycle intake devices require a higher fuel tank position to secure capacity, leading to increased seat height, which compromises getting on-and-off and foot landing performance.
Innovation Solution
The intake passage is positioned between the fuel tank and radiator, allowing for a lower fuel tank placement while maintaining capacity, and incorporating a front intake engine configuration with an air cleaner and air introduction passage to optimize air flow and reduce seat height.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If the intake passage is disposed between the engine and the fuel tank extending in the fore-and-aft direction, then the intake device can be arranged compactly, but the fuel tank must be disposed at a higher position which increases the seat height
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the spatial arrangement of the intake passage from a fore-and-aft extension to an up-and-down extension between the engine and fuel tank. This dimensional change allows the intake passage to utilize the vertical space rather than horizontal space, enabling the fuel tank to be positioned lower and thus reducing seat height while maintaining compact intake device arrangement.
Solution Approach 2:
The intake passage is nested within the vertical space between the engine and fuel tank, utilizing the available gap space. The air cleaner is positioned within this nested arrangement, and the intake passage connects these components vertically, creating a compact nested configuration that solves both the compact arrangement requirement and the seat height issue.
2Volume of stationary object
If the fuel tank is disposed at a higher position to secure necessary capacity, then the fuel tank capacity can be sufficient, but the seat height increases which deteriorates getting on-and-off performance
Solution Approach 1:
The patent reorients the intake passage arrangement from horizontal (fore-and-aft) to vertical (up-and-down), allowing the fuel tank to be positioned lower on the vehicle while still accommodating the necessary intake components. This dimensional reconfiguration enables sufficient fuel tank capacity to be achieved at a lower position, thereby reducing seat height and improving rider accessibility without compromising fuel storage requirements.
3Productivity
If the intake passage extends in the fore-and-aft direction, then the air flow path can be straightforward, but the fuel tank position must be raised which increases overall vehicle height
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transitions the intake passage orientation from horizontal (fore-and-aft) to vertical (up-and-down), changing the dimension in which air flows through the system. This vertical arrangement maintains efficient air flow from the air cleaner through the intake passage to the engine while allowing the fuel tank to be positioned lower, thus reducing overall vehicle height without sacrificing air flow efficiency.
Data Source
AI summary
According to some embodiments, a motorcycle includes a vehicle body frame 20, an engine 3 mounted on the vehicle body frame, a fuel tank 4 disposed above the engine, a radiator 5 disposed in front of the engine, and an intake device 6 connected to the engine. The intake device 6 has an intake opening 30d, and an intake passage 31 which connects the intake opening in fluid communication with a front portion of the engine. The intake passage 31 is disposed between the fuel tank 4 and the radiator 5 as viewed from a side of the motorcycle.