Saddle-ride Vehicle Air Intake Rectification
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Solution Overview
Problem
Saddle-ride type vehicles with fuel cells face inefficient air supply due to turbulent airflow and contamination from water and dust, as the existing air intake design fails to effectively direct and filter air to the fuel cell.
Innovation Solution
The design incorporates a vehicle body cover with a traveling air passage that changes the direction of incoming air, featuring a turning portion to rectify turbulent airflow and prevent water and dust from entering the fuel cell unit, utilizing an air guide plate and strategically positioned intake ports to ensure efficient and clean air supply.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If air is taken in from above the fuel cell for cooling and reaction, then the fuel cell is cooled and supplied with oxygen, but the traveling air intake port is located on the vehicle upper side causing deteriorated airflow to the stack and turbulent flow state
Solution Approach 1:
The patent relocates the air intake port from a vertical position (above the fuel cell) to a horizontal position (front side of the vehicle body cover), changing the spatial dimension of air intake. This allows the vehicle to utilize forward motion to naturally draw air through the fuel cell stack, improving both airflow efficiency and cooling effectiveness without compromising operational stability
2Device complexity
If a simple air intake port is used, then the structure is simple, but water and dust are taken in together with air and enter the fuel cell unit
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an air guide plate as an intermediary component between the air intake port and the fuel cell unit. This plate creates a turning portion that forces air to change direction, utilizing inertia to separate water and dust particles from the airflow. The harmful particles are deposited on the air guide plate while clean air continues to the fuel cell, effectively filtering contamination without complex mechanical filters
3Ease of operation
If air is supplied in turbulent flow state, then air intake is straightforward, but efficient air guiding to the fuel cell is not achieved
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a curved air guide plate that creates a smooth turning portion in the airflow path. This curved geometry gradually redirects turbulent air flow in a controlled manner, converting chaotic turbulent flow into more uniform directional flow as it approaches the fuel cell intake, thereby improving air supply efficiency while maintaining simple intake operation
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
This solution ensures efficient air supply to the fuel cell unit, preventing water and dust from entering and improving airflow quality, thereby enhancing the vehicle's performance and reliability.
Implementation Method 1
the water and dust receive an inertia force of the air stream at the turning portion and stay at the turning portion
Data Source
AI summary
A saddle-ride type vehicle includes a vehicle body frame steerably supporting a front fork by a head pipe and swingably supporting a rear wheel unit around a pivot, an air-cooled type fuel cell unit supported by the vehicle body frame on a rear side of the head pipe and including an outside air intake port facing forward, and a vehicle body cover defining a front of an intake air space that is connected to the intake port. The vehicle body cover includes a traveling air passage changing a direction of traveling air that flows in from a front. Accordingly, it is possible to efficiently supply traveling air to a fuel cell unit that includes a fuel cell.