Motorcycle Rear Structure Air Flow Straightening Plate
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing motorcycle rear structures fail to effectively straighten air flow, leading to insufficient reduction in running resistance, while also compromising tail light visibility due to the need for a large projected area for the tail light unit.
Innovation Solution
A rear structure featuring a straightening plate fixed below the rear cowl, air flow passages, and strategically positioned intake and exhaust ports to straighten and direct air flow, combined with a hugger fender and rear under cover to minimize mud and dust attachment on the tail light unit, ensuring reduced running resistance and improved visibility.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of energy
If the projected area of the rear cowl is reduced to decrease running resistance, then running resistance is reduced, but the tail light unit becomes insufficiently visible
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a straightening plate that extends in the vehicle width direction beyond the rear cowl's projected area boundaries. This allows the tail light visibility to be maintained in a different spatial dimension (width direction) without increasing the frontal projected area that contributes to running resistance. The straightening plate creates a three-dimensional solution where visibility is enhanced laterally while the frontal profile remains compact.
2Loss of energy
If air flow straightening is insufficient, then running resistance cannot be reduced effectively, but adding structures may increase device complexity
Solution Approach 1:
The straightening plate is designed to perform multiple functions simultaneously: it straightens air flow to reduce running resistance, extends the tail light unit's visible area in the width direction, and provides structural support for mounting the tail light unit. By combining these functions into a single component, the patent avoids increasing device complexity while achieving multiple benefits.
3Illumination intensity
If the tail light unit is made larger to ensure visibility, then visibility is improved, but the projected area increases and running resistance increases
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of increasing the tail light unit's size in the front-rear direction (which would increase projected area), the patent extends its visibility in the width direction using the straightening plate. This dimensional shift allows the tail light unit to maintain compact frontal dimensions while achieving sufficient visibility through lateral extension.
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 effectively reduces running resistance and enhances tail light visibility by straightening air flow and preventing mud and dust from attaching to the tail light unit, allowing for a downsized hugger fender and improved airflow through the rear cowl.
Implementation Method 1
a straightening plate which covers the rear part of the body frame from below, while allowing air flowing from the power unit to the rear to be straightened and discharged to the rear of the vehicle
Implementation Method 2
an air flow passage allowing air to flow in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle is formed in the rear cowl with an exhaust port of the air flow passage opening toward the rear around the tail light unit
Implementation Method 3
an exhaust port of the air flow passage opening toward the rear around the tail light unit
Data Source
AI summary
A motorcycle with a power unit for reducing the running resistance of a flow of air by effectively straightening the flow of air while ensuring the visibility of a tail light unit. The tail light unit emits light toward the rear of the vehicle and is arranged in a rear cowl which covers a rear part of the body frame at least behind an operator's seat. A straightening plate covers a rear part of a body frame F from below while allowing air flowing from a power unit to the rear to be straightened and discharged to the rear of the vehicle. The straightening plate is fixedly arranged below a rear cowl, which covers the rear part of the body frame from the side and above, behind an operator's seat.