Motorcycle Position Lamp Design for Aerodynamic Visibility

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Solution Overview

Problem

Saddle-straddling type motor vehicles face challenges in providing more conspicuous and visible position lamps without compromising aerodynamic characteristics, as larger lamps required for increased visibility obstruct airflow and reduce aerodynamic performance.

Innovation Solution

The design incorporates a position lamp unit with elongated, thin light-transmitting members arranged below the front cover member, extending upward and outward, and grooves that direct airflow rearward, maintaining aerodynamic efficiency while enhancing visibility.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Illumination intensity

If position lamps are made larger to increase visibility, then conspicuousness or visibility is improved, but aerodynamic characteristics deteriorate due to increased obstruction of airflow

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvevisibility of position lampsVSAvoidaerodynamic characteristics
Core Design Contradiction:
Illumination intensityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The position lamp is designed with an elongated shape extending in the vehicle width direction rather than increasing size in the vehicle front-rear direction. This dimensional change allows the lamp to achieve greater visibility through increased width while maintaining aerodynamic performance by not obstructing airflow path in the front-rear direction.

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

Solution Approach 2:

The light-transmitting member is configured with non-uniform dimensions, being longer in the vehicle width direction than in the vehicle top-and-bottom direction. This local quality differentiation optimizes visibility where needed (width direction) while minimizing aerodynamic interference (top-and-bottom direction).

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

2Object-affected harmful factors

If position lamps are provided at positions close to the outside in vehicle width direction, then conventional aerodynamic characteristics are maintained, but conspicuousness or visibility is insufficient

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveaerodynamic characteristicsVSAvoidvisibility of position lamps
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSIllumination intensity

Solution Approach 1:

The position lamp is designed with asymmetric positioning relative to the vehicle centerline, extending further in the vehicle width direction toward the outer side. This asymmetric configuration enhances visibility by placing the light source at a more conspicuous location while the elongated shape compensates for the offset position.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #4Asymmetry

Solution Approach 2:

Instead of positioning the lamp at the extreme outer edge, the invention extends the lamp longitudinally in the width direction, using length in this dimension to achieve visibility goals while allowing more flexible positioning that can accommodate aerodynamic requirements.

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

3Illumination intensity

If light-transmitting members are made longer in vehicle top-and-bottom direction, then visibility is improved, but device complexity and manufacturing difficulty increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvevisibility of position lampsVSAvoidmanufacturing complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Illumination intensityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The invention changes the dimensional parameters of the light-transmitting member, specifically making the length in the vehicle width direction greater than the length in the vehicle top-and-bottom direction. This parameter change achieves visibility improvement through a more manufacturable configuration.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The light-transmitting member has differentiated dimensions in different directions, being longer in the width direction and shorter in the top-and-bottom direction. This local quality approach optimizes visibility where it matters most while simplifying manufacturing constraints.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Data Source

PatentEP2949555B1Motorcycle
Publication Date: 2016.07.13 YAMAHA MOTOR CO LTD
  • EP2949555B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2949555B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2949555B1 patent drawingFigure 3A~3B

AI summary

A right position lamp (310R) and a left position lamp (310L) are arranged at a cover member (70). A front cover member (71) of the cover member (70) extends upward and rearward from a position further forward than an intake opening in a vehicle side view, and extends upward, rightward and leftward from a position in front of the intake opening (72o) in a vehicle front view. A right groove (73a) is formed to be located at a position further rightward than the intake opening (72o) and to extend rightward, and is concave or indented towards an inside of a vehicle (100). A left groove (73a) is formed to be located at a position further leftward than the intake opening (72o) and to extend leftward, and is concave or indented towards an inside of the vehicle (100). The right position lamp (310R) and the left position lamp (310L) are provided below the front cover member (71) and above the respective right and left grooves (73a).