Motorcycle Tank Cover Segmentation for Easy Exchange

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Solution Overview

Problem

The existing tank cover structures for motorcycles are prone to damage and difficult to exchange when damaged, as they are typically configured as a single unit, making replacement cumbersome.

Innovation Solution

The tank cover is divided into a front cover with a wide portion, a rear cover with a narrow knee grip portion, and a lower cover, allowing for independent exchange of each section, with a center cover sandwiched between the front and rear covers to enhance support stiffness and reduce damage risk.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Device complexity

If the tank cover is configured as a single unit, then the structure is simple, but it is difficult to exchange when damaged

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestructure simplicityVSAvoidexchangeability
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSEase of repair

Solution Approach 1:

The tank cover is divided into multiple independent sections: front cover, rear cover, and side covers. Each section can be independently removed and replaced, allowing damaged portions to be exchanged without replacing the entire tank cover assembly.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Ease of repair

If the tank cover is divided into multiple sections, then exchangeability is improved, but the structure becomes complex

Engineering Contradiction:
ImproveexchangeabilityVSAvoidstructure complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of repairVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The tank cover is divided into multiple independent sections: front cover, rear cover, and side covers. Each section can be independently removed and replaced, allowing damaged portions to be exchanged without replacing the entire tank cover assembly.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

3Shape

If the wide portion of the tank cover is made larger, then the aesthetic appearance is improved, but the risk of damage increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveaesthetic appearanceVSAvoiddamage resistance
Core Design Contradiction:
ShapeVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The tank cover is divided into multiple independent sections: front cover, rear cover, and side covers. Each section can be independently removed and replaced, allowing damaged portions to be exchanged without replacing the entire tank cover assembly.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

4Strength

If the center cover is made as a separate body, then the support stiffness is enhanced, but the number of parts increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesupport stiffnessVSAvoidnumber of parts
Core Design Contradiction:
StrengthVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The tank cover is divided into multiple independent sections: front cover, rear cover, and side covers. Each section can be independently removed and replaced, allowing damaged portions to be exchanged without replacing the entire tank cover assembly.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentUS10131395B2Tank cover structure for motorcycle
Publication Date: 2018.11.20 HONDA MOTOR CO LTD
  • US10131395B2 patent drawing
  • US10131395B2 patent drawing
  • US10131395B2 patent drawing

AI summary

A tank cover can be easily exchanged in a tank cover structure for a motorcycle. In the tank cover structure for the motorcycle which has a handle 25, a seat 12 on which an occupant sits, a fuel tank arranged behind the handle 25 and in front of the seat 12, and a tank cover 60 covering the fuel tank, the tank cover 60 is divided into a front cover 82 having a wide portion 82B at which the tank cover 60 is widest at the front end of the fuel tank, a rear cover 83A having a narrow knee grip portion 83 which is continued to the seat 12 at the rear portion of the front cover 82, and a lower cover 84 extending in the front-and-rear direction to form the lower portion of the tank cover 60.