Saddle Vehicle Throttle Body Layout with Mixed Flow Fan

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Solution Overview

Problem

The existing configuration of a saddle type vehicle with a radiator and air intake pipe side by side leads to increased vehicle width when the radiator capacity is increased, affecting the placement of the throttle body due to exhaust air from the radiator.

Innovation Solution

A saddle type vehicle design featuring a mixed flow fan and motor to direct exhaust air from the radiator outward, positioning the throttle body rearward of the fan to minimize thermal impact, using a parallel multi-cylinder engine with a single air-inlet port and branch intake air passages, and arranging the radiator to overlap with the cylinder head cover and air intake pipes compactly.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Temperature

If the radiator capacity is increased to cool the engine, then the cooling performance is improved, but the vehicle width is increased

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecooling performanceVSAvoidvehicle width
Core Design Contradiction:
TemperatureVSLength of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent transitions from a horizontal arrangement (side-by-side radiator and air intake pipe increasing width) to a vertical arrangement (stacking components in the width direction). The air intake pipe is positioned above the cylinder head, and the throttle body is arranged rearward of the mixed flow fan, utilizing the vertical space to reduce vehicle width while maintaining radiator capacity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

2Device complexity

If the radiator and air intake pipe are arranged side by side, then the layout is simplified, but the throttle body cannot be arranged due to exhaust air from the radiator

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvelayout complexityVSAvoidthermal effect on throttle body
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent divides the air intake system into separate functional zones: the air intake pipe is positioned above the cylinder head, the mixed flow fan is located at the rear of the radiator, and the throttle body is arranged rearward of the fan. This segmentation creates spatial separation between the hot exhaust air path and the throttle body, eliminating thermal interference while maintaining layout efficiency.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The mixed flow fan acts as an intermediary element that actively directs exhaust air away from the throttle body. By positioning the throttle body rearward of the fan and using the fan to flow exhaust air outward, the system mediates between the radiator's exhaust air and the throttle body, preventing thermal damage while maintaining compact arrangement.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Length of moving object

If a single air-inlet port with branch passages is used for parallel multi-cylinder engine, then the throttle body width is reduced, but the air distribution complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvethrottle body widthVSAvoidair passage complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Length of moving objectVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The air intake system uses a single air-inlet port that branches into separate passages for each cylinder. This segmentation allows the throttle body to be compact in width while distributing air to multiple cylinders through individual passages, reducing the throttle body dimensions without compromising air distribution functionality.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

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 configuration allows for a reduced throttle body width, efficient exhaust air flow, and reduced thermal effect on the throttle body, even with an enlarged radiator, while maintaining vehicle width and protecting the throttle body from exhaust air.

Implementation Method 1

the radiator (59) includes a mixed flow fan (323) for flowing exhaust air from the radiator rearward and outward in the vehicle width direction

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectForced Convection: Forced Convection

Data Source

PatentEP2371694B1Saddle Type Vehicle
Publication Date: 2018.03.28 HONDA MOTOR CO LTD
  • EP2371694B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2371694B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2371694B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

To provide a saddle type vehicle in which a throttle body can be arranged while restraining the effect of the exhaust air of a radiator while restraining the vehicle width even though the radiator is large. A radiator (59) includes a mixed flow fan (323) which flows exhaust air from the radiator rearward and outward in the vehicle width direction and a motor (325) configured to rotate the mixed flow fan (323) on the back surface thereof, and a throttle body (30) is arranged rearward of the mixed flow fan (323) so as to be overlapped with the mixed flow fan (323) in front view.