Parallelogram Linkage for Vehicle Lean Angle and Air Intake
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing leading arm mechanism in sport-type vehicles requires increased dimensions to achieve a larger leaning angle, leading to an enlargement of the vehicle's front portion, which complicates air intake to the engine due to the wide movable range of the linkage system, especially at high leaning angles.
Innovation Solution
The adoption of a parallelogram linkage system with a cross member and side members that change the relative positions of the front wheels, allowing the body frame to lean without significantly increasing the vehicle's overall dimensions, and a wind guiding cover that maintains air flow to the air cleaner by defining specific wind guiding spaces.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a leading arm mechanism is used to increase the leaning angle of the body frame, then the leaning angle is improved, but the dimensions of the vehicle's front portion are enlarged
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a parallelogram linkage system with four arms (first arm, second arm, third arm, fourth arm) that enables dynamic adjustment of the body frame's leaning angle. The linkage mechanism allows the front wheels to change relative position in the up-down direction while maintaining a compact overall structure, resolving the contradiction between achieving a large leaning angle and keeping the front portion dimensions small.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the dimensions of the leading arm mechanism are increased to achieve a larger leaning angle, then the leaning angle is improved, but the movable range of the linkage system increases, complicating air intake
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a wind guiding cover as an intermediary component that defines wind guiding spaces to guide air flow to the air cleaner. This mediator ensures consistent air supply to the engine even when the parallelogram linkage system moves through its range of motion, resolving the contradiction between achieving a large leaning angle and maintaining simple air intake system design.
Data Source
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AI summary
A part of a body cover (22) which is not movable relative to a body frame (21) defines a space for guiding air to an air cleaner. When a vehicle under a condition that the body frame (21) is in an upright state is viewed from the front in a front-rear direction of the body frame (21), the space is at least partially situated at least one of: above a lower end (CD) of an upper cross member (51) in an up-down direction of the body frame; on the left of a left edge (LLE) of a link mechanism (5) in a left-right direction of the body frame (21); and on the right of a right edge (LRE) of the link mechanism (5) in the left-right direction of the body frame (21).