Straddle Vehicle Side Cover Heat Protection via Nested Sub-Cover
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Solution Overview
Problem
Straddle type vehicles' side covers near the knee grip portion tend to heat up due to the engine's proximity, posing a risk of damage to passengers' legs.
Innovation Solution
A side cover structure featuring a main side cover and a sub-side cover, where the sub-side cover is configured to spread from above to below, providing a double layer at the knee grip portion and engaging with the main side cover's concaved portion to prevent heat damage, while maintaining a flush outer surface for comfortable grip and integrating with the fuel tank for aesthetic unity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If a single-layer side cover is used, then the structure is simple and cost-effective, but the knee grip portion is exposed to engine heat causing damage to passenger's legs
Solution Approach 1:
The sub-side cover is nested within the main side cover at the knee grip portion, creating a double-layer configuration. The sub-side cover is positioned inside the main side cover and extends from above to below in the side direction, forming a protective inner layer that shields the passenger's legs from engine heat while maintaining an integrated overall structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The sub-side cover extends in the vertical dimension (from above to below in the side direction) at the knee grip portion, creating a three-dimensional protective configuration. This vertical extension adds a new dimensional aspect to the protection without significantly increasing horizontal complexity, effectively shielding the knee grip area from heat while maintaining structural integration.
2Reliability
If a double-layer configuration is implemented at the knee grip portion, then heat protection is improved, but manufacturing complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The sub-side cover and main side cover are merged through the concaved portion configuration. The main side cover has a concaved portion that receives and integrates the sub-side cover, creating a unified double-layer structure. This merging approach ensures that the two layers work together as an integrated assembly, reducing manufacturing complexity while maintaining reliable heat protection at the knee grip portion.
Solution Approach 2:
The double-layer configuration is applied locally only at the knee grip portion rather than throughout the entire side cover. The sub-side cover is specifically positioned at the knee grip area where heat protection is most needed, allowing the rest of the side cover to maintain a simpler single-layer structure. This localized approach improves heat protection reliability where required while minimizing manufacturing complexity and cost increases.
Data Source
AI summary
A side cover structure for straddle type vehicle for preventing heat at a part of the vehicle such as a knee grip portion, where the passenger's legs touch. An engine is supported on the vehicle body frame with a passenger seat disposed above the engine. A side cover covers the side direction of the vehicle body. The side cover has a knee grip portion at the position where the passenger's legs touch in the front direction of a passenger seat. In addition, the knee grip portion is doubly configured inside and outside.