Motorcycle Rearview Mirror Mounting Position for Drag Reduction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional motorcycle designs with rearview mirrors mounted on the outer surface of the front cover increase air resistance due to wind pressure on the mounting and fixing portions, and when the mirrors are removed, the mounting portions left on the front cover detract from design and create air resistance issues.
Innovation Solution
The rearview mirror support boss portion is positioned lower than the outer surface extension plane of the vehicle body cover, with a support bracket and elastic parts to secure the mirror, allowing the mirror to be fixed internally and reducing wind resistance, and when removed, the design is improved by eliminating external mounting portions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If rearview mirrors are mounted on the outer surface of the front cover, then the mirrors are easily accessible and visible, but the mounting portions increase air resistance and create design issues when mirrors are removed
Solution Approach 1:
The mounting portions for rearview mirrors are extracted from the outer surface of the front cover and relocated to the inner surface. This separation removes the harmful mounting portions from the wind flow path while preserving the mirror mounting function, thereby reducing air resistance without compromising accessibility
Solution Approach 2:
The mounting portions are transitioned from a two-dimensional outer surface arrangement to a three-dimensional inner surface configuration. By moving the mounting portions to the inner surface of the front cover, the design utilizes the internal space dimension, eliminating interference with external aerodynamics while maintaining mirror accessibility
2Stability of the object's composition
If mounting portions are left on the front cover after mirror removal, then the structure remains intact, but the exposed mounting portions generate air resistance and deteriorate design appearance
Solution Approach 1:
The mounting portions are extracted from the visible outer surface and relocated to the inner surface of the front cover. This extraction ensures that when mirrors are removed, no mounting portions are visible on the external profile, preserving design appearance and eliminating air resistance sources while the structural integrity remains maintained through proper internal anchoring
Solution Approach 2:
The mounting portions are effectively 'discarded' from the external view by relocating them to the inner surface, yet their structural function is recovered and maintained through proper integration with the front cover's internal framework, ensuring both aesthetic and functional requirements are met
Data Source
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AI summary
A vehicle body frame (2) has a mounting portion (30) to which the rearview mirror (26) is fixed, and a rearview mirror (26) has a support boss portion (32) fixed to a mounting portion (30f) of the vehicle body frame (2), and the support boss portion (32) is arranged at a lower position than an extension plane (20') obtained by rearward extending an outer surface of a vehicle body frame (20).