Rear Cowl Segmentation for Tail Light Shape Adaptability
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing rear portion structures of saddle-ride type vehicles require adjustments when tail light shapes change, leading to increased manufacturing costs and reduced flexibility.
Innovation Solution
A rear portion structure featuring seat frames inclined rearward and upward, with a rear cowl comprising an upper and lower cowl, where the upper cowl forms an opening upper edge and the lower cowl forms an opening lower edge, allowing the tail light to be exposed, and a U-shaped recessed portion on the lower cowl that can be adjusted by changing the shape of the fourth cowl to accommodate different tail light shapes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Shape
If the rear cowl structure traces the tail light profile, then the tail light is properly surrounded and integrated into the vehicle design, but the entire rear portion structure must be modified when the tail light shape changes, increasing manufacturing cost and reducing flexibility
Solution Approach 1:
The rear cowl is divided into multiple segments: the main body portion and the tail light surrounding portion. This segmentation allows the surrounding portion to be independently designed and modified without changing the entire rear cowl structure, enabling flexibility in tail light design while maintaining overall integration.
Solution Approach 2:
The tail light surrounding portion is extracted as a separate functional element from the main rear cowl body. This extracted portion can be independently adjusted or replaced to accommodate different tail light shapes, eliminating the need to modify the entire rear cowl structure when tail light types change.
2Shape
If the rear cowl is redesigned for each tail light type, then the tail light integration is optimized, but the manufacturing cost increases due to frequent structural modifications
Solution Approach 1:
The main body portion of the rear cowl is designed as a universal component that can accommodate multiple tail light types. By separating the tail light surrounding portion from the main body, the same rear cowl base structure can be used across different vehicle models or configurations, reducing manufacturing costs while maintaining good integration quality through the adjustable surrounding portion.
3Ease of manufacture
If the rear portion structure is made standardized, then manufacturing cost is reduced, but the ability to properly surround and integrate different tail light shapes is compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The rear cowl is designed with different levels of standardization: the main body portion is highly standardized for cost-effective manufacturing, while the tail light surrounding portion has localized adaptability to accommodate different tail light shapes. This local quality differentiation allows the structure to be both economical to produce and adaptable to various designs.
Data Source
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AI summary
Rear portion structure of a saddle-ride type vehicle. The structure includes: seat frames inclined rearward and upward and supporting a riding seat; and a rear cowl having an upper cowl and a lower cowl. The upper cowl includes: a first cowl; and a second cowl which is connected to the first cowl and forms an opening upper edge portion of an opening for exposing a tail light. The lower cowl includes: a third cowl; and a fourth cowl which is connected to the third cowl and forms an opening lower edge portion of the opening. An approximately-U-shaped recessed portion is opened at a rear end of the third cowl. The fourth cowl forms the opening lower edge portion while covering the U-shaped recessed portion.