Straddled Vehicle Lamp Unit Positioning for Steering Shaft Space

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

The existing straddled vehicle designs face challenges in securing space forward of the steering shaft while minimizing the increase in body size in both the left-right and front-rear directions, particularly due to the placement of brake hoses and wire harnesses between the steering shaft and the lamp unit.

Innovation Solution

The straddled vehicle is designed with highly-directional light units positioned based on the up-down direction of the body frame, allowing the left and right light groups to be spaced apart in the left-right direction and extending along the front-wheel support units, thereby securing space forward of the steering shaft without increasing the vehicle's size, even when accommodating additional components like brake hoses and wire harnesses.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Volume of moving object

If the lamp unit is disposed forward of the steering shaft to accommodate brake hoses and wire harnesses, then the space forward of the steering shaft is secured, but the size of the body portion forward of the steering shaft increases in the front-rear direction

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvespace forward of steering shaftVSAvoidbody portion length in front-rear direction
Core Design Contradiction:
Volume of moving objectVSLength of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent repositions the lamp unit from a front-rear arrangement to a left-right arrangement relative to the steering shaft. The left light group is disposed on the left of the steering shaft and the right light group is disposed on the right, utilizing the left-right dimension instead of extending in the front-rear direction. This dimensional shift secures space forward of the steering shaft while preventing increase in body portion length in the front-rear direction.

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

2Adaptability or versatility

If the lamp unit is spaced apart from the steering shaft in the front-rear direction, then components like brake hoses can be accommodated, but the body portion size increases in both left-right and front-rear directions

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecomponent accommodation capabilityVSAvoidbody portion area
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSArea of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent arranges the left light group and right light group on opposite sides of the steering shaft in the left-right direction, creating space for components like brake hoses and wire harnesses between the steering shaft and the light groups without requiring front-rear separation. This lateral arrangement provides component accommodation capability while maintaining a compact body portion area.

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

Solution Approach 2:

The patent divides the lighting system into separate left and right light groups, with the left light group disposed on the left of the steering shaft and the right light group disposed on the right. This segmentation allows independent positioning of each light group and creates flexible space for accommodating components in the region between the steering shaft and the light groups.

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 effectively secures space forward of the steering shaft while limiting the increase in body size, allowing for a more compact and efficient arrangement of components, including the placement of brake hoses and wire harnesses, without compromising the vehicle's illumination capabilities.

Implementation Method 1

an optical lens section that refracts the light from the light-emitting section and generates light distribution

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectRefraction: Refraction

Data Source

PatentEP3002184B1Straddled vehicle
Publication Date: 2021.11.10 YAMAHA MOTOR CO LTD
  • EP3002184B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3002184B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3002184B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

An increase in the size of a body portion of a straddled vehicle forward of a steering shaft in a left-right direction and a front-rear direction of a body frame is suppressed to secure a space forward of the steering shaft. Each top end of left optical lens body 35L and right optical lens body 35R is located below top edge B1 of an upper bracket in an up-down direction of the body frame. Each bottom end of left optical lens body 35L and right optical lens body 35R is located above bottom edge B2 of a lower bracket in the up-down direction of the body frame. The left end of left optical lens body 35L is located on the right of left edge B3 of a left front-wheel support unit in the left-right direction of the body frame. The right end of left optical lens body 35L is located on the right of right edge B5 of the left front-wheel support unit in the left-right direction of the body frame. The left end of right optical lens body 35R is located on the left of left edge B4 of a right front-wheel support unit in the left-right direction of the body frame. The right end of right optical lens body 35R is located on the left of right edge B6 of the right front-wheel support unit in the left-right direction of the body frame.