Transmission Case Cover Scratch Protection and Cooling
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing power units of saddle-type vehicles face the issue of scratching the painted surface of the transmission case cover during the erection operation of the main stand, while also requiring effective cooling of the belt-type continuously variable transmission.
Innovation Solution
The power unit design includes a wind-guide duct cover with a duct cover rear part that extends beyond the operation part's position when retracted, covering the area prone to foot contact and made of colored resin to minimize visibility of scratches, while maintaining a large exposed area for heat dissipation through vehicle wind.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Shape
If the transmission case cover is made of metal with a painted surface to maintain appearance quality, then the aesthetic quality is improved, but the surface is prone to scratching during main stand erection operation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a rubber sheet as an intermediary protective layer between the rider's foot and the transmission case cover. This rubber sheet is粘贴 (pasted) on the transmission case cover at the location where the foot contacts during main stand erection, thereby preventing direct contact between the foot and the painted metal surface, and avoiding scratches while maintaining the original appearance quality
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies a rubber sheet in advance on the transmission case cover at the anticipated foot contact area. This beforehand protective measure ensures that when the rider erects the main stand, the foot contacts the soft rubber material instead of the hard painted surface, preventing damage before it can occur
2Object-affected harmful factors
If the wind-guide duct cover covers more area to protect against foot contact, then the protection against scratching is improved, but the heat dissipation area of the transmission case cover is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies the rubber sheet only at the specific local area where foot contact occurs during main stand erection, rather than covering the entire transmission case cover. This localized protection approach ensures that scratch protection is provided exactly where needed, while the rest of the transmission case cover remains exposed for effective heat dissipation
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts the protective function from a potential full-coverage wind-guide duct cover design and isolates it to only the necessary foot contact area using a rubber sheet. This extraction allows the majority of the transmission case cover to remain uncovered and maintain its heat dissipation functionality
3Object-affected harmful factors
If a wind-guide duct cover is used to cover the transmission case cover, then protection against foot contact is improved, but the cooling effect through exposed area is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses a simple, inexpensive rubber sheet as a protective element instead of a complex, expensive wind-guide duct cover. The rubber sheet can be easily replaced if worn, and its simple construction does not interfere with the cooling function of the transmission case cover
Solution Approach 2:
The rubber sheet is positioned only at the specific location where foot contact occurs, leaving the rest of the transmission case cover exposed to maintain cooling efficiency through vehicle travel wind
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 prevents scratches on the transmission case cover and maintains efficient cooling of the belt-type continuously variable transmission by ensuring adequate heat dissipation.
Implementation Method 1
the part other than the front part, not covered by the wind-guide duct cover, has a comparatively large surface area exposed to the outside, so that the transmission case cover is efficiently cooled by heat dissipation due to the exposure to the vehicle travel wind
Data Source
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AI summary
A power unit P of a saddle-type vehicle has a main stand 30, a transmission case 21T extending rearward from a crankcase 21c that bears a crankshaft 20 in vehicle-width direction in an internal combustion engine E forming the power unit P, and a transmission case cover 60 defining a belt chamber 55, made of a metal and covering the outer lateral side of the transmission case 21T in the vehicle-width direction. A cooling wind inlet 61 is provided at a front part of the transmission case cover 60, and a wind-guide duct cover 80 covers at least the front part including the cooling wind inlet 61 from outside with respect to the vehicle-width direction, so as to guide external air into the cooling wind inlet 61. A duct cover rear part 80r on the rear side of this wind-guide duct cover 80 is extended to the rear beyond a main stand operation part 33 in a retracted state of the main stand 30. The transmission case cover is exposed to keep a cooling effect for the belt chamber by vehicle travel wind, and scratching of a painted surface of the transmission case cover accompanying erection operation of the main stand is suppressed.