Skid Plate Bulging Portions Guide Ram Air for Motorcycle Cooling
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Solution Overview
Problem
Long-distance motorcycles require a cooling structure that can effectively cool the engine, exhaust pipe, and fuel tanks while allowing for increased fuel tank capacity, which existing designs fail to adequately address.
Innovation Solution
A cooling structure for saddle-type vehicles featuring a skid plate with mesh-covered openings, bulging portions, and strategically positioned radiators, which guides ram air to cool the engine and exhaust pipe, and includes bulging tank portions on the fuel tanks to enhance capacity and cooling efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If the fuel tank capacity is increased by extending the tank downwardly to cover the engine, then the fuel tank capacity is improved, but the engine cooling efficiency deteriorates due to blocked airflow
Solution Approach 1:
The skid plate is segmented with multiple openings (first openings 77j, 77k and second openings 77l, 77m) that divide the airflow path, allowing ram air to reach the engine through designated channels while the fuel tank maintains its extended downward coverage for increased capacity
Solution Approach 2:
The skid plate acts as an intermediary structure between the fuel tank and engine, with its openings serving as controlled access points that mediate airflow to cool the engine while permitting the fuel tank to occupy the space around the engine for increased capacity
2Temperature
If the skid plate has openings for cooling the engine, then the engine cooling efficiency is improved, but the structural protection capability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The skid plate exhibits local quality differentiation with reinforced regions (front surface 77c, bulging portions 77d-77g) providing enhanced protection, while strategic openings (77j, 77k, 77l, 77m) are positioned to provide cooling airflow paths without compromising overall structural integrity
Solution Approach 2:
The skid plate employs a composite structure combining protective material with integrated cooling features, where the plate itself serves dual functions of protection and heat dissipation facilitation through its strategically designed openings and bulging portions
3Device complexity
If the fuel tank covers the exhaust pipe, then the overall vehicle structure is simplified, but the exhaust pipe cooling efficiency deteriorates leading to fuel vaporization
Solution Approach 1:
The skid plate with its bulging portions (77d, 77e, 77f, 77g) is positioned to guide ram air toward the exhaust pipe openings (77l, 77m) before the air reaches the fuel tank area, pre-cooling the exhaust pipe to prevent fuel vaporization while maintaining structural simplicity
Solution Approach 2:
The design converts the potential harm of hot exhaust pipes near fuel into a beneficial cooling system where the skid plate's bulging portions actively direct cool ram air to the exhaust pipe openings, using the temperature differential to achieve active cooling without additional complex systems
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
The structure effectively increases fuel tank capacity and cooling efficiency by collecting and directing ram air to the engine and exhaust pipe, preventing air dispersion and ensuring effective heat dissipation, thus maintaining engine performance and preventing fuel vaporization.
Implementation Method 1
the skid plate (77) has openings (77j, 77k) defined in a central upper portion thereof for introducing ram air from a front of the vehicle toward the engine (41)
Implementation Method 2
the skid plate (77) has first bulging portions (77d, 77e) bulging forwardly on both sides of the openings (77j, 77k), the fuel tanks (66) include bulging tank portions (66j) disposed rearwardly of and along the first bulging portions (77d, 77e) and covering front portions of the engine (41), and ram air guided toward a central area in a vehicle widthwise direction by the first bulging portions (77d, 77e) passes through the mesh member (105) and the openings (77j, 77k) to cool the exhaust pipe (62) and the engine (41)
Implementation Method 3
the openings (77j, 77k) are covered with a mesh member (105)
Implementation Method 4
radiators (101) may be disposed in the cavities (66h) upwardly of the skid plate (77)
Data Source
AI summary
A cooling structure for a saddle-type vehicle includes a main frame; an engine; an exhaust pipe extending rearward from a front portion of the engine; fuel tanks disposed laterally of the engine; and a skid plate covering front portions of the engine and the exhaust pipe. The skid plate includes openings defined in a central upper portion thereof for introducing ram air from a front of the vehicle toward the engine. The openings are covered with a mesh member. The skid plate has first bulging portions bulging forwardly on both sides of the openings. The fuel tanks include bulging tank portions disposed rearward of and along the first bulging portions and covering front portions of the engine. Ram air guided toward a central area in a vehicle widthwise direction by the first bulging portions passes through the mesh member and the openings to cool the exhaust pipe and the engine.