Motorcycle Radiator Mounting With Metallic Support And Vibration Damping

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing motorcycle radiators face challenges with insufficient support strength and poor cooling efficiency due to vibration isolation using synthetic resin materials, particularly when applied to engines with large displacement.

Innovation Solution

A motorcycle design featuring a metallic support portion with a radiating opening, a radiator mounted on this support, and a cooling fan positioned to direct airflow through the opening, with vibration-absorbing material interposed between the support and radiator, enhancing both vibration isolation and heat dissipation.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Object-affected harmful factors

If a synthetic resin shroud is used to surround the cooling fan and support the radiator, then vibration isolation is achieved, but support strength becomes insufficient for large-sized radiators

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvevibration isolationVSAvoidsupport strength
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The invention uses a composite structure combining synthetic resin and rubber materials. The shroud is made of synthetic resin for basic vibration isolation, while rubber pieces are embedded at specific positions (four corners and center) to enhance vibration absorption. This composite approach maintains the lightweight and isolating properties of resin while adding the damping characteristics of rubber to improve overall support strength.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

Solution Approach 2:

Instead of making the entire shroud from a single material, the invention applies different materials at different locations. Rubber pieces are strategically placed at high-stress areas (corners and center) where vibration isolation and support strength are most needed, while the rest of the shroud remains as synthetic resin. This local differentiation optimizes both vibration isolation and support strength where required.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

2Object-affected harmful factors

If a synthetic resin shroud is used to surround the cooling fan, then vibration isolation is achieved, but cooling efficiency deteriorates due to poor heat dissipation

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvevibration isolationVSAvoidheat dissipation
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSTemperature

Solution Approach 1:

The shroud combines synthetic resin with embedded rubber pieces to create a composite structure that addresses both vibration isolation and heat dissipation. The rubber pieces, having better thermal conductivity than pure resin, help conduct heat away from the fan area, improving cooling efficiency while maintaining vibration isolation properties.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

Solution Approach 2:

The invention applies rubber material at specific locations (where rubber pieces are embedded in the shroud) to improve heat dissipation in critical areas without compromising the overall vibration isolation provided by the synthetic resin structure. This localized enhancement of thermal properties improves cooling efficiency where it is most needed.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

3Object-affected harmful factors

If the radiator is mounted through a synthetic resin shroud, then vibration isolation is achieved, but the structure becomes insufficient for large displacement engines

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvevibration isolationVSAvoidstructural reliability
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The shroud is constructed as a composite material structure combining synthetic resin with embedded rubber pieces. This composite construction provides both vibration isolation from the resin and enhanced structural reliability from the rubber reinforcement, making the mounting structure sufficient for large displacement engines.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

Solution Approach 2:

Rubber pieces are strategically embedded at critical positions (four corners and center) of the shroud to provide localized reinforcement. This local strengthening enhances the overall structural reliability of the shroud-radiator assembly, enabling it to support large-sized radiators on large displacement engines while maintaining vibration isolation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

The solution provides improved support strength and increased cooling efficiency by using metallic materials with high thermal conductivity, reducing the need for strengthened connections and enhancing the radiator's ability to dissipate heat effectively.

Implementation Method 1

a vibration absorbing material interposed between the support portion and the radiator

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectVibration absorption: Damping

Implementation Method 2

metallic support portion with high thermal conductivity

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectThermal conduction: Conduction (thermal)

Implementation Method 3

a cooling fan mounted proximate to the radiator and arranged to drive cooling air past the radiator and through the radiating opening

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectForced convection: Forced Convection

Data Source

PatentEP2048072B1Motorcycle
Publication Date: 2014.08.13 YAMAHA MOTOR CO LTD
  • EP2048072B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2048072B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2048072B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A motorcycle includes a fan (21) provided in a crank case (11). A metallic fan case (24) is mounted to the crank case (11) to accommodate therein the fan (21). When the fan (21) rotates, cooling air passes through a core (38) of a radiator (22) to be discharged outside from a radiating opening (25) of a fan case (24). Mount portions (41, 45) are formed on upper and lower tanks (36, 37) of the radiator (22) and, respectively, mount thereon grommets (50) made of an elastic material. Accordingly, when bolted to the fan case (24), the radiator (22) is supported in a state, in which vibrations are absorbed by the elasticity of the grommets (50).