Swing-Supported Hybrid Motorcycle Engine Layout for Vibration Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
In straddled vehicles, vibration from the engine unit propagates to the entire vehicle through the frame body, compromising responsiveness and ride quality.
Innovation Solution
The engine unit is series-hybridized, separating it into an electric power generation engine and a drive unit. The electric power generation engine is swingably supported by the vehicle frame, while the drive unit is supported independently, using an electric power transfer medium with flexibility to convert engine power into electric power for the drive motor.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If the engine unit is rigidly fixed to the frame body to enhance frame rigidity, then the rigidity of the frame structure is improved, but vibration from the engine propagates to the entire vehicle through the frame body
Solution Approach 1:
The engine unit is divided into two separate units: an electric power generation engine and a drive unit. This segmentation allows each unit to be independently supported and controlled, enabling the power generation engine to be swingably supported to reduce vibration while the drive unit remains rigidly fixed for responsive power delivery.
Solution Approach 2:
The electric power generation engine is supported in a swingable manner rather than being rigidly fixed. This dynamic support allows the engine to move independently to absorb and reduce vibrations before they propagate to the frame body, while maintaining its power generation function.
2Object-generated harmful factors
If the engine unit is swingably supported to reduce vibration propagation, then vibration transmission is suppressed, but responsiveness to input may be reduced
Solution Approach 1:
By separating the engine unit into power generation and drive components, the system allows the drive unit to be rigidly fixed for responsive operation while the power generation engine is swingably supported for vibration reduction. This segmentation enables both contradictory requirements to be satisfied by different parts of the system.
Solution Approach 2:
The electric power transfer medium acts as an intermediary between the swingably supported power generation engine and the rigidly fixed drive unit. This intermediary allows power transmission while isolating the vibration-reducing swingable support from the responsiveness-critical drive unit.
3Object-generated harmful factors
If the engine unit is partially fixed to the frame body, then some vibration suppression is achieved, but part of the vibration still propagates to the entire vehicle
Solution Approach 1:
The complete separation of the engine unit into independently supported components eliminates partial fixation. Both the power generation engine and drive unit have their own support mechanisms, allowing full vibration suppression without compromising frame rigidity.
Solution Approach 2:
The harmful vibration-generating function is extracted from the rigid frame structure by removing the engine unit completely from rigid fixation. The power generation engine is taken out and given independent swingable support, separating the vibration source from the frame body.
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 enhances the vehicle's responsiveness to inputs while effectively suppressing the transmission of engine vibration to the frame body, resulting in improved ride quality and reduced vibration propagation.
Implementation Method 1
an electric power generator, which is electrically connected to an electric power transfer medium having a flexibility, is fixed to the electric power generation engine
Data Source
AI summary
A straddled vehicle, including a vehicle frame structure, a drive unit including a drive motor that receives electric power and outputs driving power, a driving wheel that receives the driving power, and an electric power generation unit. The electric power generation unit includes an electric power generation engine configured to output engine power, and an electric power generator that is fixed to the electric power generation engine and is electrically connected to an electric power transfer medium having flexibility. The electric power generator is configured to convert the engine power into the electric power, and supply the electric power to the drive motor via the electric power transfer medium. The straddled vehicle is series-hybridized by the drive unit and the electric power generation unit. The electric power generation engine is swingably supported, independently of the drive unit, by the vehicle frame structure, such that the engine power is not mechanically supplied to the driving wheel.